ESPN commentator Stephen A Smith has criticised Minnesota Lynx head coach Cheryl Reeve for wearing a "Trans Kids Belong" T-shirt on the bench during a game, arguing that her display of activism has damaged the WNBA. The comments add Smith's high-profile voice to an ongoing row within the league over player and coaching staff activism, with the incident becoming the latest flashpoint in wider debates about politics and social causes in women's basketball.

Reeve wore the shirt during Minnesota's game against the Indiana Fever at Target Center on Sunday, 2 August 2026. The episode has drawn broader criticism, including from Seattle Storm leadership and other commentators, and has been linked in coverage to separate backlash faced by Indiana Fever's Sophie Cunningham over her stance on women's sports, illustrating how the trans-athlete debate continues to divide opinion around the league.