'It truly hits home': SC senator on why Cunningham's stand against trans athletes moved her

WASHINGTON, DC: The newly appointed South Carolina Senator Darline Graham Nordone appreciated WNBA star Sophie Cunningham for publicly opposing biological males competing in women's sports, saying her comments "took a lot of guts."

Nordone, who identifies herself as a longtime volleyball mom, said that she was personally concerned over the issue, arguing that biological males playing in girls' sports is dangerous.

Darline Graham Nordone praises Sophie Cunningham's stance on girls' sports

The Chief Congressional Correspondent for Fox News, Chad Pergram, shared Nordone’s statement in an X post, where she said that she has been traveling with her daughter’s team and knows “how dangerous it is to have boys playing in girls’ sports.”

“I want to thank Sophie Cunningham for speaking out and making it clear that I could not agree more,” Nordone said.

“What she said took a lot of guts. It’s sad but true that in today’s world, and particularly on this issue, common sense is not common,” she added.

“I am a volleyball mom who has traveled with my daughter and her team throughout South Carolina and the Southeast. I know how dangerous it is to have boys playing in girls’ sports,” Nordone continued.

Nordone also spoke about an incident that happened in North Carolina to a “young female volleyball player” and how it “truly hits home” for her.

“As a mother, thank you to Miss Cunningham for speaking out,” Nordone continued. “I truly appreciate you adding your voice to this important debate. Our daughters will be the ones who benefit from your words and voice.”

Sophie Cunningham rejects claims she hates trans people

Nordone's comments came after Sophie Cunningham told ESPN that she has received "a lot of negative feedback" about her "hating trans." 

Cunningham said she simply wants "to protect young girls in a locker room," or young girls participating in sports, from having to compete against biological men.

“I got a lot of negative feedback about me hating trans,” Cunningham said. “And I’m like, ‘I never once said that’. I think that I am here to extend love. But I also think with that love is truth, being honest."

"I want to protect young girls in a locker room, or young girls in sports who shouldn’t have to go against biological men," she added.