SPORTS

Reporter Quits Over Sophie Cunningham Column Dispute

PUBLISHED Aug 21, 2026, 1:41 PM ET

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Longtime Seattle Times sports columnist Matt Calkins resigned Thursday after 11 years following editors' refusal to publish a column about WNBA player Sophie Cunningham's stance on transgender athletes. Calkins wrote the piece after two Washington student-athletes attended the July 28 Fever-Storm game wearing XX-XY Athletics shirts supporting Cunningham's view that transgender women should not compete in women's sports. He said editors held his column for weeks before rejecting it, citing his failure to clear the topic in advance—a reason he found unconvincing. The columnist expressed respect for his editors despite the disagreement. Cunningham, the Indiana Fever's fourth-leading scorer off the bench, has continued defending her position. Calkins noted several previous columns with contrarian views had been spiked, contributing to his decision. The Seattle Times has not publicly commented on the resignation.

By James Porter | JQJO News

Timeline of Events

On July 28, 2026: Cunningham comments on transgender athletes during Fever-Storm game.
· On July 28, 2026: Two student-athletes attend game wearing XX-XY Athletics shirts.
· On July 29, 2026: Calkins begins writing column about student-athletes' perspective.
· On July 30, 2026: Calkins submits column to Seattle Times editors.
· On August 1, 2026: Seattle Times editors hold column without publication decision.
· On August 15, 2026: Editors inform Calkins column will not run.
Present Events:
· On August 21, 2026: Matt Calkins resigns from Seattle Times after dispute.
· On August 21, 2026: Calkins cites multiple previous columns also rejected.
Future Expectations:
· Calkins likely seeks new media position within coming months.
· Seattle Times faces scrutiny over editorial decisions and transparency.
· Cunningham's advocacy continues throughout WNBA season and beyond.
· Debate over transgender athletes in sports intensifies nationally.

News Intelligence

Immediate US Impact: Highlights ongoing media conflict over transgender sports coverage.
Long-Term US Impact: May influence how outlets handle transgender sports reporting.
Affected Groups: Sports journalists, transgender athletes, WNBA fans, media organizations.
Reader Priority: Focus on editorial policies and athlete statements, not speculation.