Enes Kanter Freedom And Royce White Declared Themselves WNBA-Eligible, Saying They Identify As Women, As The League Weighs Transgender Participation
WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert says the league will continue discussing transgender athlete participation in women’s basketball as the issue draws increasing attention from players, fans and political groups.
In a memo sent Friday to WNBA teams and obtained by The Associated Press, Engelbert acknowledged that league officials and teams have received growing questions about transgender athletes and said the issue will be discussed during a previously scheduled meeting of team presidents and general managers next week.
“I know many of you have received questions in recent weeks regarding transgender athlete participation in women’s basketball, and I expect this topic will continue to receive significant attention,” Engelbert wrote.
The commissioner said the league intends to approach the debate “thoughtfully, respectfully” and in keeping with its longstanding values while also protecting competitive integrity.
Sophie Cunningham Comments Put Issue In Spotlight
The renewed attention comes after Indiana Fever guard Sophie Cunningham publicly voiced support for keeping transgender girls and women from competing in girls’ and women’s sports.
Her comments, made in an ESPN article published last month, prompted small demonstrations during recent Fever road games in Seattle and Portland.
A lone protester also appeared outside Indiana’s home game against the Las Vegas Aces on Thursday. Conservative organizations planned a rally supporting Cunningham ahead of the Fever’s Saturday matchup with the Chicago Sky.
The WNBA had not previously issued a public statement addressing the controversy.
Engelbert noted that the league’s player eligibility rules are collectively bargained, meaning changes would involve negotiations with the Women’s National Basketball Players Association.
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The current collective bargaining agreement states that “only players who are women are eligible to play in the WNBA,” but does not contain more specific language addressing gender identity or sex assigned at birth.
The issue drew another round of attention Friday when former NBA players Enes Kanter Freedom and Royce White said they considered themselves eligible for the WNBA draft after declaring that they identify as women.
WNBA Players Union Rejects Political Targeting
The WNBPA responded Friday with a statement emphasizing both its support for women’s sports and its commitment to inclusion.
“We embrace justice equity, diversity, and inclusion,” the union said. “Those are the values that unite this Union and allow it to protect women’s sports while creating transformational change.”
The players’ association also pushed back against what it described as efforts to turn players and transgender people into political targets.
“Hate, abuse, and demonization of any person or group of people, including transgender people, only fuel fear, division, and harm,” the statement said. “We will continue to have hard conversations. But we will not be used as political pawns.”
Several WNBA figures have publicly supported transgender athletes, including Seattle Storm center Stefanie Dolson and Minnesota Lynx coach Cheryl Reeve.
“We need to protect trans kids,” Reeve said Aug. 1. “To me, it’s a human rights issue. Every kid has a right to sports.”
Engelbert said discussions will continue with league leadership, team officials and the players’ association in the weeks and months ahead. The league also plans additional meetings and listening sessions for team leaders.
“Preserving the integrity of our game and ensuring fair competition will always remain among the league’s highest priorities,” Engelbert wrote.
