Seattle Times Columnist Quits After Paper Kills ‘Save Women’s Sports’ Column
Seattle Times Columnist Resigns After Newspaper Refuses to Publish Column on Women’s Sports Debate
What Happened?
Matt Calkins, a sports columnist who worked at The Seattle Times for 11 years, quit his job on Thursday. He resigned because the newspaper refused to publish his latest column about two young female athletes who spoke out about transgender participation in girls’ sports.
Important Point: A columnist is a writer who shares their opinions and perspectives regularly — not just straight news reporting. Their job is to spark conversation and offer a point of view.
The Column That Wasn’t Published
Calkins wrote a column centered on two Washington state student-athletes:
| Athlete | Sport | What They Did |
|---|---|---|
| Ahnaleigh Wilson (16) | High school track | Competed against a transgender athlete; attended a rally supporting WNBA player Sophie Cunningham |
| Frances Staudt | High school basketball | Declined to play in a game involving a transgender opponent |
What the Column Argued
- Supporting sex-separated sports doesn’t mean being hostile toward transgender people
- The voices of girls who compete against transgender athletes are often left out of media coverage
- These students deserve to be heard, not silenced
Why the Newspaper Said No
According to Calkins, here’s what happened:
- He submitted the column on a Friday
- Six days passed with no decision
- Editors said they were "looking at it" and passing it to higher-ups
- Six more days later, they rejected it
- The stated reason: "You didn’t tell us you were doing this in advance"
Calkins didn’t buy that excuse.
He said this wasn’t the first time — whenever he wrote something that "went against the grain," his columns got spiked (journalism slang for killed or not published).
The Bigger Picture: What Sparked the Column
The controversy started before a July 28 WNBA game between the Seattle Storm and Indiana Fever at Climate Pledge Arena.
- Sophie Cunningham (Fever guard) has publicly opposed transgender women in women’s sports
- A rally was held outside the arena supporting her
- Calkins attended and interviewed Ahnaleigh Wilson
- Storm co-owner Celeste Keaton allegedly confronted Wilson inside the arena, using profanity
- The WNBA fined Keaton and suspended her from 5 home games
- The Storm apologized publicly
This incident prompted Calkins to write the column — which he later published on Substack after resigning.
The Political Backdrop: Washington’s Upcoming Vote
In November, Washington voters will decide on Initiative IL26-638.
| Side | Argument |
|---|---|
| Supporters | Protects fairness and safety in girls’ sports |
| Opponents | Discriminates against transgender students; creates invasive eligibility checks |
The initiative would:
- Require schools to bar students defined as biologically male from female sports
- Require healthcare-provider verification of biological sex for participation
Calkins’ column touched on this debate — but his resignation raises a separate question:
How much freedom do newspaper columnists have to explore controversial opinions?
Calkins on His Decision
"I couldn’t do my job as a columnist because I feel like they were stifling my voice."
— Matt Calkins
But he doesn’t blame his editors personally:
- "I have a lot of respect for my editors"
- "I don’t know what I would’ve done if I were in their situation either"
- He understands the pressure they face on divisive topics
What’s Next for Calkins?
- No firm job plans yet
- Will keep writing independently (already on Substack)
- Wants to stay in sports journalism and speak his mind
- "I love sports. I love to be able to speak my mind. Hopefully I can stay in that realm."
Summary
- Matt Calkins, 11-year Seattle Times sports columnist, resigned after his column was rejected
- The column highlighted two teen girls who oppose transgender athletes in girls’ sports
- Newspaper claimed he didn’t give advance notice — but Calkins says this was a pattern
- He believes editorial caution about backlash is silencing legitimate perspectives
- The column was tied to a real-world incident at a WNBA game involving a team co-owner
- Washington voters will weigh in on a related ballot measure in November
- Calkins respects his former editors but feels he could no longer do his job
- He plans to continue writing independently
FAQ
Why does this matter if it’s just one columnist at one paper?
It raises a bigger question about media culture: Are newsrooms making space for unpopular but sincerely held views — especially on polarizing topics like gender and sports?
What does "spiked" mean in journalism?
It means an editor decides not to publish a story or column that’s already been written — sometimes at the last minute.
Did the students do something wrong by speaking out?
No. They exercised their First Amendment rights — attending a rally, sharing their experiences. One was even confronted by a team owner, which the WNBA disciplined.
Is this about being "anti-trans"?
Calkins explicitly says no. His column argued that supporting female-only sports ≠ hostility toward trans people. He wanted to platform girls’ voices, not attack anyone.
Where can I read the column now?
Calkins published it on his Substack: mattycee.substack.com