WNBA Presidents Won’t Rule Out Male Participation, Condemn ‘Bad-Faith’ Critics
WNBA presidents and general managers on the league’s “anti-hate” task force met Wednesday to discuss eligibility rules for transgender-identifying biological men, but did not reach a conclusive decision.
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“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,” a league spokesperson said in a statement. “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. 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.”
The topic has come to the forefront of the league after Indiana Fever guard Sophie Cunningham told ESPN that she supports keeping boys and men out of girls’ and women’s sports.
“I got a lot of negative feedback about me hating trans. And I’m like, ‘I never once said that,’” Cunningham told ESPN. “I think that I am here to extend love. But I also think with that love is truth, being honest. And I want to protect young girls in a locker room, or young girls in sport who shouldn’t have to go against biological men.”
In response to her comments, activists for and against the inclusion of men in women’s sports have staged rallies at Fever games.
The league currently has no publicly stated policy governing eligibility of transgender or intersex players. While a collective bargaining agreement signed in March makes clear that “only players who are women are eligible to play in the WNBA,” there is no further definition of “woman” included.
In a memo to team presidents and general managers last week, WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert said the league would have ongoing discussions about the topic of biological men in the league.
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“We recognize that this is a complex and nuanced topic, and we will continue to have important conversations with all of you and the Players Association in the weeks and months ahead,” Engelbert said in the memo. “We also plan to convene additional discussions and offer listening sessions for any team leaders who would like to participate. Your perspectives and feedback are invaluable, and I appreciate those who have already reached out to share their thoughts.”
Several WNBA figures, including Seattle Storm center Stefanie Dolson and Minnesota Lynx coach Cheryl Reeve, have come out in favor of allowing biological men to play in women’s sports.
“We need to protect trans kids,” Reeve said earlier this month. “To me, it’s a human rights issue. Every kid has a right to sports.”
Two former NBA players are now looking to test the league’s eligibility rules; Enes Kanter Freedom and Royce White declared themselves eligible for the WNBA draft on Friday, saying they identify as women. However, the draft is not until April.
The league has not yet ever had an openly transgender-identifying player, though it has had two biological women who identify as nonbinary on team rosters: Layshia Clarendon and AD Durr.
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