The White House has jumped into the WNBA conversation, and it's not about All-Star Weekend. Press secretary Karoline Leavitt lit into critics of Indiana Fever guard Sophie Cunningham on Thursday, calling the backlash against her 'completely ludicrous.'

Cunningham has been under fire after a recent ESPN feature where she discussed her political views and took a firm stand on transgender athletes competing in women's sports. The 6-foot-2 guard, who has been labeled a 'MAGA Barbie' by some online, said she's actually 'very much in the middle' politically but drew a hard line on protecting female athletes.

Read also
NBA
WNBA Columnist Nancy Armour Stands Firm on Controversial Caitlin Clark Take
Nancy Armour defends her controversial column about Caitlin Clark, despite backlash over a reference to Emmett Till. She stands by her argument that Clark's actions could endanger Black players.

'I got a lot of negative feedback about me hating trans,' Cunningham told ESPN. 'I never once said that. I think that I am here to extend love. But I also think with that love is truth, being honest. And I want to protect young girls in a locker room, or young girls in sport who shouldn't have to go against biological men.'

Leavitt didn't hold back when asked about the controversy during a press briefing. 'It's completely ludicrous that anyone could support that,' she said. 'It's even more ludicrous you have Sophie Cunningham, a female athlete herself, very accomplished in her own right, coming forth and speaking that truth that men shouldn't play in women's sports — we want to protect women and girls — and the backlash she is receiving from Democrats and left-wing fingers across the country is astonishing. They are clearly very out of touch with the American public on this issue.'

Leavitt added that President Trump is following the story closely, though he hasn't reached out to Cunningham directly. The press secretary framed the issue as a common-sense stance that most Americans support, calling it an '80/20 issue.'

Cunningham isn't backing down. Before the Fever's game against the Connecticut Sun on Wednesday night, she doubled down on her comments. 'I said what I said. I think it's kind of common sense,' she said. 'I think it's really important to protect children. I don't dislike anyone. I'm there to love, but I'm also there to love biological women.'

This isn't the first time Cunningham has found herself in the middle of a heated debate. She recently clashed with Megan Rapinoe over trans athletes in women's sports, and she's been outspoken about her views on social media. Cunningham also set the record straight about her public persona, insisting she's not the person critics make her out to be.

While the political firestorm rages, Cunningham remains focused on the court. She's been a key contributor for the Fever this season, though she was notably snubbed from the WNBA 3-Point Contest during All-Star Weekend, a slight she didn't let slide.

For now, Cunningham is standing her ground, and she's got the backing of the White House. Whether that helps or hurts her in the court of public opinion remains to be seen, but one thing is clear: she's not about to change her tune.