Remember that wild, factually incorrect statement Brooklyn Nets star Michael Porter Jr. made — the one where he claimed he took down players like Sophie Cunningham and even his own sisters when he was in eighth grade and they were in college? It was bound to create controversies, and that is exactly what happened on social media. The comment quickly shifted the conversation into yet another men vs women basketball debate.

But instead of shutting him down, Sophie Cunningham has now stepped forward and backed the essence of MPJ’s point, saying NBA players — even as school-aged kids — are on a different athletic level than WNBA players.

Speaking on her Show Me Something podcast, Cunningham addressed the comments her longtime friend made about men vs women basketball players and admitted there is a clear physical gap between the two. She said, “I mean, it’s probably true. I think, if you are a professional [athlete], if you’re in that elite level group, yea you should be able to beat the girls! I’m not surprised by that. I don’t get why it’s continuing to get brought up. If women are saying, ‘yea he couldn’t beat us.’ Yes, he could. Any NBA star or player can beat a female in high school. The context of it is fair.” 

(This is a developing news….)