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· collected 2026-08-19 · by Jackson Thompson
Canadian powerlifting champion April Hutchinson led a rally supporting Sophie Cunningham, an athlete who has become polarizing due to her views on protecting women's sports from biological males, outside Scotiabank Arena in Toronto. The rally, which was part of a series called "Sophie Nights," was the first to take place outside of the US and drew a crowd of supporters wearing XX-XY Athletics T-shirts. According to Hutchinson, there were approximately five people who wore pro-transgender messaging shirts but exchanged words with the Cunningham supporters. Toronto police helped ensure the safety of the rallygoers, but later issued tickets to Rebel News for setting up a mobile billboard in support of Cunningham near the arena.
Written by the local model on 2026-08-19,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
April Hutchinson, a Canadian powerlifting champion, led a rally outside Scotiabank Arena in Toronto on Tuesday night in support of basketball player Sophie Cunningham. This was the first Sophie Cunningham rally to take place outside of the US. A crowd gathered ahead of the Indiana Fever's game against the Toronto Tempo, and Hutchinson credited the Toronto Police Department with helping ensure their safety. However, a disagreement between Cunningham supporters and local police broke out over a large mobile billboard featuring Cunningham and messaging from tennis star Martina Navratilova addressing fairness in women's sports. The billboard prompted police to issue tickets for violating the city's municipal by-law, but no further information was provided as the matter is now before the courts.
Written for “Sophie Cunningham Rally” on 2026-08-31,
grounded in this article and the 0 other(s) covering the same event.
Why this leaning score
The article's own words the score was based on. Each is quoted
verbatim and was checked against the article text before being
stored, so you can find it in the original.
Leaning score -0.35 for article 1157 (high confidence, 2 verified quotes) · logged 2026-08-25
Canadian powerlifting champion April Hutchinson led the seventh Sophie Cunningham rally on Tuesday night in Toronto – the first to take place outside of the U.S.
A crowd of Cunningham supporters gathered outside of Scotiabank Arena ahead of the Indiana Fever's win against the Toronto Tempo.
asserted
crowd → lead → Tempo
Supporters were seen wearing XX-XY Athletics T-shirts.
asserted
Supporters → see → shirts
Hutchinson told Fox News Digital it was all Cunningham supporters, until a small crowd of around five people wearing pro-transgender messaging exchanged words with the Cunningham crowd.
"Only about five were wearing protect trans kids and protect the dolls t shirts, [they] walked by and said that our signs were disrespectful," Hutchinson said.
asserted
Hutchinson → tell → shirts
Hutchinson also credited Toronto police for helping ensure the safety of the rallygoers.
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Hutchinson → credit → rallygoers
"The Toronto police contacted me this morning and wanted details about the rally to ensure our safety," Hutchinson said.
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Hutchinson → contact → safety
However, a disagreement between Cunningham supporters and local police broke out.
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disagreement → break → supporters
A large mobile billboard that featured Cunningham and messaging by Martina Navratilova addressing fairness in women's sports, and other athletes, prompted police to issue tickets.
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that → feature → tickets
The billboard was set up by the news outlet Rebel News.
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billboard → set → outlet
Rebel News has told Fox News Digital they have contacted a lawyer to fight the charges.
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they → tell → charges
A copy of the ticket obtained by Fox News Digital showed the charges listed as "Display sign with animation/video display/illumination/flashing lights/sound/movement or simulation motion, contrary to Toronto Municipal By-law 693-14, Section 12."
The Toronto Police Department responded to Fox News Digital's request for comment, writing, "Since this charge is now before the courts, we won’t be able to provide any further information."
Inside the arena, Cunningham had a solid shooting night, hitting three of three shots from three-point range, finishing with 13 total points.
asserted
Cunningham → obtain → points
However, many fans in the arena booed Cunningham, as she has become a polarizing figure since coming out in support of protecting women's sports from biological males.
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she → boo → males
Cunningham addressed the boos after the game, and praised the Toronto crowd.
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Cunningham → address → crowd
"I want to shout out the Tempo crowd, and the city, I think we had so much fun, it's my first time being in Canada...
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it → want → Canada
but the crowd was absolutely amazing, and I think that's what sports is all about, you're going to get boos you're going to get cheers, but just the fact that they're so passionate, they're loud and they're putting out for the city
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they → think → city
, I think it's amazing," Cunningham told reporters.
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Cunningham → think → reporters
The Cunningham rallies will follow the Fever to their next two games, as two more "Sophie Nights" are planned to take place outside Indiana's next game in Dallas against the Wings, and in New York on Saturday ahead of a matchup against the Liberty.
asserted
Nights → follow → Liberty
