A podcast distributed by The Athletic, owned by the New York Times, presented hosts making mocking comments toward female athletes defending sex-based sports eligibility standards. The hosts ridiculed a collegiate swimmer's athletic record and dismissed a professional women's basketball player's advocacy, generating criticism from those supporting single-sex sports categories.

The episode reflects divisions in sports media over transgender athlete inclusion in women's competition. Athletes like WNBA player Sophie Cunningham have become prominent voices calling for sex-based protections in sports, and their positions have generated visible public backing, with supporters demonstrating outside sporting venues. This incident underscores the tension between progressive media outlets and female athletes expressing concerns about competitive fairness and the preservation of women's sports spaces.