The League Pushed Back Against a Growing Debate Over Transgender Participation After Two Former NBA Players Declared Themselves Eligible for the WNBA Draft
The WNBA is pushing back against what it calls “bad-faith” attempts to turn transgender participation into a controversy surrounding the league, saying there are currently no eligibility disputes involving any of its players.
“There are no immediate eligibility matters affecting the WNBA, and we strongly denounce the bad-faith efforts to use these topics to demean or marginalize others,” a league spokesperson said Wednesday.
The statement came after the WNBA’s anti-hate task force met virtually to discuss several issues affecting players, including abusive social media behavior and the growing public debate over transgender athletes.
Under the league’s collective bargaining agreement, “only players who are women are eligible to play in the WNBA.” The agreement, however, does not provide more specific language addressing gender identity or sex assigned at birth.
No transgender woman — someone assigned male at birth who later transitions — has ever played on a WNBA roster. The league has had players who were assigned female at birth and later identified as transgender or nonbinary.
The debate intensified last week when former NBA players Enes Kanter Freedom and Royce White said they identify as women and declared themselves eligible for the WNBA draft.
The league’s next draft is not scheduled until April.
“Today’s meeting covered a wide range of topics, including ongoing discussions on transgender athletes and the continued hate and vitriol directed at players online,” the WNBA said.
“We will continue to engage all league stakeholders in the coming weeks and months. We will approach these important conversations thoughtfully and in alignment with the values of our league.”
Sophie Cunningham Comments Continue To Fuel Wider Debate
WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert had already signaled that league officials planned to continue discussing the question of transgender participation.
In a memo sent Friday to team presidents and general managers, Engelbert described the subject as “complex and nuanced” and said the league planned additional conversations with teams and the Players Association.
“We also plan to convene additional discussions and offer listening sessions for any team leaders who would like to participate,” Engelbert wrote. “Your perspectives and feedback are invaluable, and I appreciate those who have already reached out to share their thoughts.”
The discussions come after Indiana Fever player Sophie Cunningham said in an ESPN article last month that she supports keeping transgender girls and women out of girls’ and women’s sports.
Her remarks led to small rallies and protests during Fever road games in Seattle and Portland last week.
Other WNBA figures have publicly taken the opposite position.
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Seattle Storm center Stefanie Dolson and Minnesota Lynx coach Cheryl Reeve have expressed support for transgender athletes.
“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.”
Many other players have declined to publicly weigh in.
The league’s anti-hate committee was established last year in response to hateful and abusive online comments directed at WNBA players and the league.
