Mariah Rose, daughter of former NBA player Jalen Rose, has launched a sharp critique against former swimmer Riley Gaines. The controversy centers on Gaines’ vocal support for Indiana Fever player Sophie Cunningham regarding the debate over transgender athletes in women’s sports. In an Instagram video posted Thursday, Rose accused Gaines of viewing other communities as a threat to white supremacy, stating, “She’s made her whole brand being a f***ing loser.”
The tension follows an incident at the Target Center on Saturday, where Gaines attended the Minnesota Lynx’s 108-100 victory over the Fever. During the game, Gaines held a sign supporting Cunningham, but Lynx staff asked her to put it down. Gaines discussed the encounter during a Thursday morning appearance on Fox Business’s “Morning with Maria.”
During her interview, Gaines criticized the WNBA for failing to capitalize on the growing popularity of players like Cunningham and Caitlin Clark. She further argued that the NBA’s financial subsidies for the WNBA serve as the root cause for the league’s alleged ignorance regarding the attention surrounding these athletes.
As of Thursday, Gaines has not issued a public response to the criticism from Mariah Rose.
