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· collected 2026-08-04 · by Kristen Waggoner
The article is a first-person account by an unidentified former female athlete, discussing how her experiences as an athlete have shaped her perspective on issues related to women's sports. The author reflects on her own athletic career and the lessons she learned from playing volleyball, and contrasts this with her current work advocating for women's rights in court. The article cites the example of Sophie Cunningham, a WNBA player who has been criticized for stating that biological sex is real, and suggests that Cunningham's stance has sparked an important national conversation about the need to protect girls' sports from boys competing against them.
Written by the local model on 2026-08-21,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Sports have played a crucial role throughout my life.
asserted
Sports → play → life
Growing up, I ran cross-country and was coached by my dad in basketball, until I found my true love: volleyball.
asserted
I → grow → love
I loved being a setter to the point that I dreamed about making plays.
asserted
I → love → plays
It taught me the things a sport often does: willpower, loyalty, discipline and how to come back swinging when you get knocked down.
asserted
you → teach → things
But what I remember most is simply how much I loved it.
asserted
I → remember → it
My obsession even dictated the college I chose, where a devastating injury broke my heart and ended my career.
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injury → dictate → career
There’s one thing I feel obligated to tell you, though: I was never going to be a collegiate star.
asserted
I → ’ → you
I went to a small school, and I still stand today at my maximum height of 5 feet flat.
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I → go → feet
What I lacked in stature, I assure you, I did not lack in heart.
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I → lack → heart
I was a scrappy competitor, and I took losses hard.
asserted
I → take → losses
(Some would say I still do.)
asserted
I → say → ?
I embraced every morning and late night, the bruises and broken bones — not because I was destined to be Division I, but simply because I loved it.
asserted
I → embrace → it
I gained friendships, grit, and drive I’m confident I wouldn’t have gained elsewhere.
asserted
I → gain → friendships
And I say this, admittedly, not as a promising up-and-comer, but just a girl who loved playing.
asserted
who → say → up
I step into a different court these days, but I still carry the grit that women’s athletics gave me when I walk into a courtroom.
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I → step → courtroom
Enter Sophie Cunningham.
asserted
Cunningham → enter → ?
In a now-famous ESPN interview, the Indiana Fever star, who calls herself politically "very much in the middle," said she wants to protect young girls "who shouldn’t have to go against biological men."
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who → call → men
With that love, she added, comes truth.
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truth → add → love
After the media clutched their pearls over her saying biological sex is real, she doubled down, called it "common sense" and posted on Instagram saying, "I said what I said."
asserted
I → clutch → what
Her bold stand has sparked an important nationwide conversation in the days since and a whole gamut of supporters and detractors.
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stand → spark → supporters
This is the courage aspiring female athletes need, especially in a league that partners with Girls in the Game, which says that one of its values is "moving beyond the binary of ‘girl.’"
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one → need → girl
Tell that to the girl who sacrificed everything to reach the podium.
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who → tell → podium
Women’s sports had a banner year.
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sports → have → year
In two cases, Alliance Defending Freedom litigated alongside the courageous leadership of Idaho Attorney General Raúl Labrador and West Virginia Attorney General JB McCuskey, the U.S. Supreme Court unanimously held that sex matters and that states can protect women’s sports under Title IX.
asserted
states → litigate → IX
That’s a win for every girl in those 27 states.
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That → ’ → states
But what does this mean for Kallie Keeler in Washington, who had to report a sexual assault after competing against a male wrestler during a match?
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who → mean → match
For Selina Soule, Chelsea Mitchell, Alanna Smith and Ashley Nicoletti, still waiting for Connecticut to stand up for the girls who are losing to boys today?
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who → wait → boys
It means we’re coming for the 23 remaining states.
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we → mean → states
A girl’s equal opportunity shouldn’t hinge on her ZIP code.
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opportunity → hinge → code
Our daughters deserve better than lawyers who can’t define what a woman is — better than professional athletes with platforms who think it’s fine for men to steal the podium from the girls coming up behind them.
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men → deserve → them
And they deserve far better than a WNBA co-owner swearing at them for holding a sign that read, "Thank you, Sophie, for speaking up for girls!"
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that → deserve → girls
The newly suspended Seattle Storm co-owner Celeste Keaton forgot that love tells the truth.
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love → suspend → truth
But Sophie remembered.
asserted
Sophie → remember → ?
At the height of her career, she took a stand for truth while others chose cowardice.
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others → take → cowardice
Speaking truth should be praised, not punished.
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Speaking → speak → truth
There are young girls who dream of being the next big star.
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who → be → ?
And there are also girls who just love the game like I did.
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I → be → game
They all deserve fair play.
asserted
They → deserve → play
Where are the women willing to stand up, inspire greatness, and tell the truth?
asserted
women → stand → truth
Ladies, we’re pointing the finger at you.
asserted
we → point → you
