Stephen A. Smith, Sage Steele Clash Over Male Athletes' Silence on Trans Competitors

The two former ESPN colleagues debate why more men in sports haven't spoken out on transgender athletes in women's sports.

Apr. 2, 2026 at 10:53pm by Ben Kaplan

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A cubist, geometric painting depicting a fractured, multi-angled scene of a sports competition, with sharp, overlapping planes of color and form representing the complex and contentious nature of this issue.The debate over transgender athletes competing in women's sports continues to divide the sports world, with some prominent figures calling for action to protect female competitors.San Francisco Today

Former ESPN colleagues Stephen A. Smith and Sage Steele engaged in a heated discussion on Steele's podcast about the lack of outspoken male athletes and sports figures on the issue of transgender athletes competing in women's sports. Steele questioned why more men with high-profile platforms and financial security haven't advocated for protecting female athletes, while Smith acknowledged that some people simply don't care about issues unless they directly affect them.

Why it matters

The debate over transgender athletes in women's sports has become a divisive and politically charged issue, with many arguing that it poses unfair physical advantages and risks to biological female competitors. Steele and Smith's exchange highlights the perceived silence from influential male voices in the sports world on this controversial topic.

The details

Steele asked Smith why it took him 'three years' to speak out on the issue, but Smith clarified that he had addressed the case of Lia Thomas, the transgender swimmer at the University of Pennsylvania, 'from day one' on ESPN's 'First Take.' The two agreed on the core issue, with Steele questioning why more wealthy and powerful male athletes and sports figures haven't used their platforms to advocate for protecting female athletes. Smith acknowledged that 'some people don't care about a damn thing unless it affects them directly,' while Steele argued that if more women in the sports media industry had spoken up, the situation would be different.

  • Stephen A. Smith discussed the issue of transgender athletes in women's sports on 'Real Time with Bill Maher' last week.
  • Sage Steele and Stephen A. Smith's podcast discussion took place on April 2, 2026.

The players

Stephen A. Smith

A prominent sports commentator who has worked for ESPN and currently appears on shows like 'First Take.'

Sage Steele

A former ESPN anchor and reporter who now hosts her own podcast.

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What they’re saying

“'Why do you think so many male athletes — we work with these men every single day, NFL, NBA, whatever it is, who've got not as much to risk — they've got $150 million in their pocket, or maybe it's much less, I don't care. This is common sense. And many of them, like you, have daughters who are athletes. Are you going to let a young man at the volleyball net play against your daughter knowing what's at risk? We have seen the injuries.'”

— Sage Steele, Podcast Host

“'Some guys, some people, and this is very, very sad, some people don't care about a damn thing unless it affects them directly. We just got to call it like we see it. Some of us are conscientious enough to say, 'Bump that, I got this public platform, ain't no way I can sit silently and say nothing.' Some people, when it comes to politics, it's a cesspool. It's been a cesspool. This is the latest issue.'”

— Stephen A. Smith, Sports Commentator

The takeaway

Steele and Smith's debate highlights the perceived lack of vocal male support for protecting female athletes from competing against transgender athletes, despite the issue being a major point of contention in the sports world. Their exchange underscores the politically divisive nature of this topic and the challenges in finding common ground.