Former ESPN host Sam Ponder took to X on Sunday to sound off about her daughter being forced to compete against a biological male in a basketball game. In an interview with her former colleague Sage Steele, Ponder said recently that she felt like she was partially let-go from her role at the network in 2024, due to her religious and conservative beliefs.
Ponder speaks up
“It’s happened many times now living in NYC… yet another basketball game today where my middle school daughter is guarding an obviously naturally born boy in a girls tournament,” Ponder wrote. “The parents cheer while the boy is physical and dominant against the girls. The all girls team loses.”
It’s happened many times now living in NYC… yet another basketball game today where my middle school daughter is guarding an obviously naturally born boy in a girls tournament. The parents cheer while the boy is physical and dominant against the girls. The all girls team loses.
— Samantha Steele Ponder (@samponder) October 19, 2025
Ponder went on to note that she teaches her children to never criticize the child because they are likely being influenced by bad decisions that their parents made on their behalf.
“We’ve taught our kids to never make fun of the kid… to always be kind and loving. That the parents are the problem. That no kid is born in the wrong body. But if I’m honest, watching my daughter get posted up by a boy whose parents have deceived him in this way is maddening.”
One individual pointed out that Ponder would not have been allowed to say the comments she made about her child’s situation on-air when she was employed by ESPN. Ponder took it a step further, saying she would not have been able to post about it on social media as well.
forget on air. I would never try to do that. they wouldn’t let me say that on social media.
— Samantha Steele Ponder (@samponder) October 20, 2025
While others criticized Ponder for a lack of evidence, as well as grifting, the former Sunday NFL Countdown host did not back down.
I don’t need you to believe me. I’m living it. As a wise friend once told me “a tall man feels no need to prove his height”
— Samantha Steele Ponder (@samponder) October 20, 2025
what’s the grift? what is my motivation? I can promise you I am not being paid for this honesty but I have lost millions for it
— Samantha Steele Ponder (@samponder) October 20, 2025
Ponder’s history with ESPN
This is not the first time that Ponder has spoken out about the unfairness of allowing biological men into women’s sports. While at ESPN, Ponder came under fire for supporting Riley Gaines, along with speaking out against Lia Thomas.
She also claimed that she was reprimanded by ESPN management with a detailed email for favoriting a post from political commentator Megyn Kelly that said men don’t need gynecologists.
Weeks before being let go by ESPN, Ponder was vocal about Imane Khelif winning a gold medal in a boxing event at the 2024 Summer Olympics. Khelif had allegedly failed a gender test prior to competing in the women’s boxing competition, leading to one of Khelif’s opponents dropping out of a fight early.
Ponder quote-posted on August 1, 2024 comments featuring said boxer, Angela Carini (who faced Khelif), with the caption: “ENOUGH is what all of us should be saying!! Proud of this woman 👏🏼💪🏼.”
ENOUGH is what all of us should be saying!! Proud of this woman 👏🏼💪🏼 https://t.co/C23l9Sn2js
— Samantha Steele Ponder (@samponder) August 1, 2024
“I knew when I sent that, like, this isn’t going to go over well,” Ponder said. “But to me, that’s abuse. You have a male in a boxing ring with a female literally beating her and we’re just supposed to like, ‘Yay,’ in the name of inclusion. No, like, what about her?”
What is Ponder up to now?
Since being laid off by ESPN in August of 2024, Ponder has not worked, instead opting to take time to be with her family. Ponder held a prominent role at ESPN, previously serving as a host on Sunday NFL Countdown, as well as College GameDay.
In Ponder’s previous interview with Steele back in July, she made it known that she wants to be a voice to speak up for defending women’s sports saying, “I thought this was sports. We’re talking about female collegiate athletes, Olympic athletes, and it’s wrong to shine a voice on that and give another voice, another opinion?”
Ponder added. “I wasn’t against debate or healthy discussion. I just didn’t want anyone telling me, ‘No, no, no, you can’t talk about that. I wasn’t really giving my own opinions on it, as much as I was saying, ‘Listen to these girls, they’re in the locker rooms. Why do their opinions not deserve a platform when we’re giving awards for Women’s History Month to someone born male? I couldn’t understand it, I still don’t understand it.”
