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Liberal ‘Shark Tank’ Star Has A Shocking Take On Trans Athletes

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Mark Cuban
Photo Credit: Gage Skidmore from Peoria, AZ, United States of America, CC BY-SA 2.0 , via Wikimedia Commons

Dallas Mavericks minority owner Mark Cuban weighed in on the ongoing debate over transgender participation in women’s sports, offering a surprising take that differs from pervasive liberal narratives.

In a recent interview with ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith, Cuban, who campaigned for former Vice President Kamala Harris, said society isn’t ready to fully embrace the idea of men competing in women’s athletic events.

“To make it a national issue so that if you weren’t supporting the fewer than 10 trans athletes in the NCAA, then you weren’t a good person,” he began.

“People just aren’t ready for that yet. You’ve got to meet people where they are,” Cuban told Smith. “It takes time, you can’t just force it down people’s throats.”

He suggested that instead of politicizing the issue, the priority should be supporting those who face genuine hardship and unfair treatment.

Cuban argued that the conversation should focus on helping those who are disadvantaged, not exploiting them for political purposes.

“My attitude is if there’s a trans athlete, no matter what side, you let the opponent, whether it’s an individual sport or a team sport, you let them decide if they want to compete against them or not,” he added.

His perspective gained attention after a female fencer took a stand at a recent event.

Stephanie Turner chose not to compete against transgender fencer Liz Redmond during a tournament, citing concerns about fairness.

Prior to the match, Turner noticed Redmond’s name in her competition bracket and made her decision to protest.

“I saw that I was going to be in a pool with Redmond, and from there I said, ‘OK, let’s do it. I’m going to take the knee,'” Turner told Fox News Digital.

Turner participated in four bouts before facing Redmond. When the moment came, she knelt in protest and declined to proceed with the match.

“I knew what I had to do because USA Fencing had not been listening to women’s objections regarding [its gender eligibility policy],” Turner explained.

She then addressed the referee: “I’m sorry, I cannot do this. I am a woman, and this is a man, and this is a women’s tournament. And I will not fence this individual.”

Redmond reportedly appeared confused and approached Turner, asking if she was okay.

Turner responded, “I have much love and respect for you, but I will not fence you.”

USA Fencing swiftly issued Turner a black card, removing her from the competition for what was deemed unsportsmanlike conduct.

She was escorted to tournament officials, made to sign a document acknowledging the infraction, and then led out of the facility. Turner claims she signed the document under protest.

USA Fencing defended its policy, which was implemented in 2023 and permits athletes who identify as transgender to compete in the women’s division.

“USA Fencing remains committed to fostering an inclusive, respectful community for everyone in our sport. We believe in the principle of creating safe communities where all athletes and community members have a place,” the organization said in a statement provided to Fox News.

“While we understand there are a range of perspectives, USA Fencing will continue to engage in respectful, research-based dialogue and review as policy evolves in the Olympic and Paralympic movement, as well as domestic law,” they continued.

“Hate speech of any kind is not acceptable—online or in person. Let’s keep the conversation respectful and the strip welcoming to all.”

Legendary tennis champion Martina Navratilova, an outspoken critic of male participation in women’s sports, blasted the organization on social media for punishing Turner.

“This is what happens when female athletes protest! Anyone here still thinks this is fair??? I am fuming… and shame on @USAFencing, shame on you for doing this. How dare you throw women under the gender bulls— bus!!!” Navratilova wrote on X.

Similar scenes unfolded in other sports recently. At a disc golf event in Nashville, Tennessee, over the weekend, professional competitor Abigail Wilson refused to compete against a transgender athlete at the MVP Music City Open.

As she approached the tee box, Wilson mimicked the motion of a throw, then turned to the crowd and made her stance clear.

“Females must be protected in our division,” she said. “This is unfair. I refuse to play.”

 

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In high school track and field, a transgender athlete in Portland, Oregon, claimed first place at a girls’ meet.

Competing under the name Lia Rose — formerly Zachary Rose — the athlete won the high jump at the Portland Interscholastic League Varsity Relays with a jump of 4 feet, 8 inches, topping the second-place finisher by a full two inches.

Rose’s prior performances while competing in the boys’ division were notably poor, including an 11th-place finish in a field of 11 in 2023 with a jump of 4 feet, 6 inches.

Meanwhile, Lia Thomas, the former University of Pennsylvania swimmer who transitioned from competing in men’s to women’s events, defended the right of athletes to choose their competition category.

“It has to be the athletes deciding for themselves where they feel most affirmed and most comfortable,” Thomas said, according to the Daily Pennsylvanian.

“Having routes that are safe and non-discriminatory, that allow them access to that.”

Thomas, who went from a middling NCAA men’s ranking to a national title contender in women’s swimming, has faced heavy scrutiny.

After graduating in 2022, Thomas publicly criticized World Aquatics for its decision to prohibit transgender athletes from elite-level events like the Olympics.

“I felt so devastated and [felt] grief over losing this access to my sport,” Thomas said.

“There was no doubt in my mind that I was going to fight this, that this is my sport too, and I’m not just gonna give it up to trans folks.”

Watch Cuban’s full interview with ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith here:

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