Trans women in sports: ESPN’s Sage Steele defends colleague Sam Ponder over ‘bigo intolerance’ claims

SportsCenter host Sage Steele is defending ESPN colleague Sam Ponder over allegations of bigotry in the latest uproar over the debate over trans athletes in women’s sports.

Ponder drew attention last week by tweeting about the subject, writing that it was unfair to ask young girls to compete against athletes who were male at birth.

“I’ve barely said anything publicly on this issue and I’ve had so many ppl messages stop me on the street thanking you + tell me stories of girls afraid to speak out for fear of losing their job/becoming resentful named [sic]Ponder wrote.

USA Today’s Nancy Armor responded with a tweet and related column, rejecting Ponder’s claim that she was defending women and instead claiming that the ESPN host was promoting bigotry.

Steele, however, defended Ponder on Twitter: “Pathetic attack on a WOMAN just fighting for other WOMEN in sports. @nrarmour chooses to lead with her emotions vs facts. ‘Follow the science’, right?! When in doubt, just pull the bigot/race card! Comical. Stay strong @samponde ..this is a lonely fight but worth it!’

Sage Steele (left) defends her ESPN colleague Sam Ponder (right) for bigotry

Nancy Armor of USA Today accused Ponder of acting out of bigotry rather than concern

The 37-year-old Ponder has received a hodgepodge of feedback after defending young women who felt they had been unfairly removed from their sports rosters to be replaced by trans women.

“It is not hateful to demand fairness in girls’ sports,” she wrote on Twitter.

Ponder was referring to comments by Riley Gaines, who shared messages sent to her by young sportswomen who felt threatened that their place in the lineups was being taken by trans women, leaving them feeling helpless.

Former college swimmer Gaines called it “discrimination against women and bullying at its best.”

Ponder supported the message, saying that what they demand is honesty and should not be called “hateful” for that.

But she was criticized for her views, as people called Ponder a transphobe for sharing her faith.

One person said, ‘Uh oh, Sam. Be prepared to be called to the boss’s office for this.” Another added, “So you’re a transphobe, cool. Another one showing his true colors.’

Armor’s column followed the same line of criticism.

“Her public concern about ‘fairness’ for female athletes begins and ends with the minuscule number of transgender women participating in sports,” Armor wrote. “If Ponder really wanted to be a champion of women’s sports, she had every opportunity. But she hasn’t. Because this has nothing to do with ‘honesty’.

Others, however, sided with Ponder.

One person said, “You’ve earned my followers. Thank you for having the courage to speak up.’

Another added: “Thanks for speaking up in support of girls’ sports for girls. It is totally unfair for a biological boy or man to compete against biological girls and women.”

This comes weeks after ex-ESPN reporter Charly Arnolt berated her former employer for supposedly contradicting their “no politics” rule — a month after the network aired a tribute to transgender swimmer Lia Thomas during Women’s Month.

Arnolt announced earlier this week that she would be leaving the Worldwide Leader for OutKick, speaking to Fox News about her struggles with her previous company – where she felt “suffocated” and “uncomfortable” due to the company culture.

“ESPN has been determined to keep politics out of their programming, but you just saw at the end of last month that they paid a whole tribute to Lia Thomas during Women’s Month,” Arnolt said via the NY Post.

USA Today’s Nancy Armor (pictured) took down Ponder in both a column and on Twitter

Trans women who participate in sports reap a variety of physiological benefits, largely due to exposure to testosterone at a young age

“That’s why it doesn’t exactly seem like they’re keeping politics out of it altogether. But I must give my compliments [Sage Steele and Sam Ponder] for standing up for these women who are sadly losing so much of the success they worked so hard for.

“I think there are a lot of women who are uncomfortable standing up for women’s rights because they don’t want to be seen as politically incorrect, because it’s really crazy where this world and this conversation has gone,” Arnolt later said.

Thomas has sparked controversy in the college sports world after becoming the first transgender athlete to win a Division 1 national title in women’s swimming. Thomas previously competed in the men’s division at the University of Pennsylvania before transferring.

Ponder also expressed her opinion at the time: “This would take away so many opportunities for biological women and girls in sports. It is a shame that we have to fight for the integrity of Title IX in 2023 and the reason why it was needed in the first place.”