3 weeks ago
WNBA commissioner says transgender athlete talks to continue next week
The WNBA is a professional basketball league for women in the United States.
The people who run the league are talking about a big question: who should be allowed to play.
Some people think only people who were born female should be allowed to play in women's sports.
Other people think transgender women and girls should be allowed to play too.
A player named Sophie Cunningham said she thinks transgender girls and women should not play women's sports.
Some people protested at basketball games because of what she said.
Two former men's basketball players said they want to join the WNBA.
The league's leader, Cathy Engelbert, said the league will keep talking about this with the teams.
She said the league always wants to be fair and keep the game strong.
The players' union said they support all kinds of people and do not want to be used in political fights.
WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert told teams the league will continue discussing transgender athlete participation, with a task force of team presidents and general managers meeting next week.
The discussion follows Indiana Fever guard Sophie Cunningham's voiced support for barring transgender girls and women from girls' and women's sports.
Cunningham's remarks prompted small rallies and protests in Seattle and Portland, plus a lone protester at the Fever's home game against the Las Vegas Aces.
The WNBA's collective bargaining agreement states only women are eligible to play but includes no specific language on gender identity or sex assigned at birth.
Former NBA players Enes Kanter Freedom and Royce White declared themselves eligible for the WNBA draft, saying they identify as women.
- Who
- WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert, a task force of team presidents and general managers, Indiana Fever guard Sophie Cunningham, the Women's National Basketball Players Association, and former NBA players Enes Kanter Freedom and Royce White.
- What
- The WNBA will continue discussions on transgender athlete participation in women's basketball, with a task force taking up the issue at a meeting next week.
- Where
- League offices and team meetings; protests occurred in Seattle and Portland, with an upcoming Fever game in Chicago.
- When
- Next week, following recent weeks of attention, a lone protester at the Fever's home game on Thursday night, and a rally planned in Chicago on Saturday.
- Why
- Because questions have been circulating among clubs and in the media following Sophie Cunningham's support for barring transgender girls and women from girls' and women's sports.
Inclusion advocates
Fair-competition advocates
Transgender participation in women's basketball
Inclusion advocates
The WNBPA embraces justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion, saying hate and demonization of transgender people fuels fear, division, and harm.
Fair-competition advocates
Sophie Cunningham voiced support for barring transgender girls and women from girls' and women's sports, while Engelbert stressed that fair competition and the integrity of the game remain top priorities.
Political role of the league and union
Inclusion advocates
The WNBPA says it will continue having hard conversations but will not be used as political pawns.
Fair-competition advocates
Members of conservative groups planned rallies supporting Cunningham's stance, and Engelbert acknowledged the topic will continue to receive significant attention.
Key facts
- Commissioner
- Cathy Engelbert
- Next step
- Task force of team presidents and general managers to discuss the issue next week
- Catalyst
- Sophie Cunningham's support for barring transgender girls and women from women's sports
- Protests
- Small rallies in Seattle and Portland; lone protester at Fever home game versus Las Vegas Aces
- CBA eligibility language
- "Only players who are women are eligible to play in the WNBA"
- Draft declarations
- Enes Kanter Freedom and Royce White declared for the 2027 WNBA draft
- Union response
- WNBPA commits to diversity, equity and inclusion; will not be used as political pawns
Quotes
WNBA Players Association
Union representative
“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.”
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“We embrace justice equity, diversity, and inclusion, the statement said. Those are the values that unite this Union and allow it to protect women's sports while creating transformational change.”
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Sources
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