WNBA Star Sophie Cunningham Backs Michael Porter Jr.’s Claim That Eighth-Grade Boys Would Defeat Professional Female Basketball Players

NBA athlete Michael Porter Jr. has been unreserved in his views about WNBA players and the perceived talent gap between male and female players. The vocal Brooklyn Nets forward candidly expressed sentiments that many female basketball enthusiasts might find derogatory. While appearing on the Ball in the Family Podcast with Lonzo and Gelo Ball on November 18, he controversially claimed that an eighth-grade boys' team could defeat a selection of WNBA All-Stars, drawing from personal experience. “I’ve played against my sisters, who competed at The University of Missouri,” Porter remarked. Lonzo Ball supported the claim, asserting that a 9th-grade version of himself would excel in the WNBA. Notably, close friend Sophie Cunningham, a WNBA player, echoed Porter’s opinion, suggesting that elite male athletes, due to their physical attributes, would likely triumph against female counterparts. This incident isn't isolated, as Porter’s past remarks have similarly ignited debates regarding gender equity in sports.