Staff Reports
Sophie Cunningham says she could no longer take chances with her safety. The WNBA guard-turned-podcast-voice announced she has hired 24/7 security after revealing she’s been stalked and that federal authorities are watching multiple people tied to threats against her. This isn’t celebrity drama — it is the cost of speaking up in today’s sports culture.
Cunningham hires 24/7 security — what she actually said
On her No Hesitations podcast, Cunningham explained that her profile grew fast and that meant strangers started following her everywhere. She told listeners she’s hired professional guards who will travel with her around the clock. She also said the FBI is monitoring roughly 20 people linked to threats and stalking. That’s a startling number for a professional athlete who is simply saying what many women in sport believe.
Why the threats followed her words on women’s sports
Cunningham became a lightning rod this year after defending the idea that girls’ sports should be protected from biological males competing against them. Her comments drew protests at games and loud responses from activists on the coasts and elsewhere. When debate turns into harassment, it crosses a line. Protesting is one thing. Sending stalkers and threats is another. The result is a player who now needs bodyguards to do her job and to go about her life.
The bigger picture: free speech, cancel culture, and safety
This situation says something about the times. Athletes used to express opinions and face pushback. Now some face organized harassment and even behavior that brings federal attention. Social media amplifies every comment. Public mobs sometimes become private threats. If we value free speech, we also have to protect the people who use it — even when we disagree with them. It is both sad and obvious that speaking plainly about protecting girls in sport has forced an athlete to hire round-the-clock security.
Whatever you think of Cunningham’s views, nobody should have to live with constant fear because they spoke out. She is a free agent and will likely travel more and face more of the same. Fans, leagues, and law enforcement need to make sure opinions aren’t met with violence or stalking. That goes for everyone who wants to stand up and be heard — and for a country that used to let speech cost nothing more than debate, not bodyguards.
