New York Times-Owned Athletic Podcast Criticized for Dismissing Female Athletes’ Accomplishments

A podcast distributed by The New York Times-owned Athletic drew scrutiny this week after hosts Charlotte Wilder and Madeline Hill made derisive comments about accomplished female athletes during an episode of “The Sports Gossip Show.” The episode, which aired through The Athletic Podcast Network under a 2025 licensing agreement, featured dismissive remarks toward 12-time All-American swimmer Riley Gaines and eight-year WNBA veteran Sophie Cunningham.

During the segment, Wilder characterized Gaines as “not even a very good one” despite Gaines’ extensive credentials including All-America honors, three individual conference championships, two SEC records and qualification for the 2021 U.S. Olympic Trials. Gaines also tied for fifth in the 200-yard freestyle at the 2022 NCAA Championships, with one of her conference-title swims ranking as the 16th-fastest in American history.

Hill similarly dismissed Cunningham’s eight-season WNBA career with a condescending laugh and repeated assertions that she is “not the best player” in the league. The hosts then accused Cunningham of launching a “right-wing grift” and conducting a post-basketball conservative career strategy, labeling the podcast segment “Sophie Cunningham’s right-wing grift.”

Cunningham’s professional record includes being drafted in 2019, appearing in the 2021 WNBA Finals and ranking among the top 10 in league history in true shooting percentage. She maintained her position in the world’s top women’s basketball league for approximately twice the length of an average player’s career, according to available data.

The hosts further criticized supporters of women’s sports policies, describing XX-XY Athletics shirts and signs as “anti-trans” and suggesting that teenage girls involved in the movement lacked “critical thinking skills.” Among the girls discussed was Ahnaleigh Wilson, who became involved in women’s sports advocacy after losing a 1,600-meter race to a biological male athlete at age 14.

Wilson had stated in a previous interview that “it isn’t fair, and it isn’t working for biological girls” and “it isn’t working for transgender athletes,” indicating she had considered multiple perspectives on the issue. NCAA softball player Kendall Kotzmacher also attended a rally supporting Cunningham following her state-championship tournament loss to a team featuring a biological male pitcher.

Cunningham disclosed that an ESPN interview addressing transgender athlete participation in women’s sports took place in February, with the reporter directly asking about the topic. She remained largely silent on the issue for several months until ESPN published the story, contradicting claims that she executed a calculated strategy to publicize her stance.

OutKick and Fox News Digital contacted Wilder, Hill, The Athletic and The New York Times Company requesting evidence supporting the grifter accusation and clarification of the hosts’ claims. No responses were provided by the publication deadline.