The WNBA's offseason just got a whole lot spicier. Sydney Colson, who spent time alongside Caitlin Clark with the Indiana Fever, didn't hold back in a fiery podcast episode, taking direct aim at Sophie Cunningham and other white players in the league.
Colson, a 37-year-old veteran who hung up her sneakers in 2025 after a career that began in 2011, used her platform to call out Cunningham for comments she made about transgender athletes in an ESPN profile earlier this summer. The former Texas A&M standout was blunt, to say the least.
“When you say things that are harmful, talking about the trans (expletive), nobody respects you,” Colson said on her show. “Shut the (expletive) up, shut the (expletive) up. Nobody wants to hear your opinion. Freedom of speech, so you can say it, but just know – people are just trying to get by when they’re dealing with you. You ought to be ashamed, y’all ought to be ashamed.”
Cunningham, 30, had told ESPN that she believed it was “common sense” to keep transgender athletes out of women's sports, saying she wanted to “protect young girls in the locker room” and that “they shouldn’t have to go against biological men.” She later doubled down to reporters, insisting, “I said what I said. I think it’s kind of common sense. And I think I’ll always believe in that. I think it’s really important to protect children, and that’s little girls who are also involved in that category. I stand on what I said.”
The Missouri product has remained unapologetic, but her stance has sparked a league-wide debate. Colson's rant adds another layer to a conversation that's already gotten media scrutiny for its handling of Cunningham.
Now, with Cunningham set to hit unrestricted free agency this winter, the question is whether her off-court comments will affect her market. The Fever have expressed interest in bringing her back, with general manager Amber Cox praising her leadership and experience. “Sophie is a really solid leader in the locker room … she brings levity, but also brings a lot of experience. She’s serious and is an important voice in our locker room when we need it, when we really need to lock in. She’s an unrestricted free agent, so we look forward to having those conversations. She had a really productive year, and we’ll see just where things take us,” Cox said.
Indiana's season ended with a first-round playoff loss to the Aces, and the franchise is clearly looking to build for the future. Colson's comments, however, could complicate things, especially given the Fever's connection to Clark, who has been a lightning rod for debate herself. Clark's own classy exit interview won over fans, but the locker room dynamics might be shifting.
As the WNBA offseason heats up, all eyes will be on Cunningham's free agency and whether this controversy follows her. Colson's podcast rant has certainly raised the stakes, making it clear that some players are not willing to let Cunningham's views slide without a fight.
