The possible participation of transgender players in the WNBA has again become a talking point after French transgender athlete Julie Tetart expressed an interest in playing in the major US basketball league.
The idea has attracted both opposition and support.
One of the most vocal opponents to the idea is Indiana Fever guard Sophie Cunningham, who wants transgender athletes barred from competing against women in basketball games.
Her comments provoked rallies and protests in Seattle and Portland when Indiana faced them in recent WNBA fixtures.
‘Protect trans kids’
But some WNBA players and coaches, including Seattle Storm center Stefanie Dolson and Minnesota Lynx coach Cheryl Reeve, have come out in support of the idea.
“We need to protect trans kids,” Reeve said on August 1. “To me, it’s a human rights issue. Every kid has a right to sports.”
The Women’s National Basketball Players Association released a statement on social media on Friday that emphasized diversity and inclusion while saying the group “will not be used as political pawns.”
Task force announced
While the league has yet to comment on the protests against Cunningham’s comments, commissioner Cathy Engelbert issued a memo to teams on Friday, saying that the topic will be discussed by a task force of team presidents and general managers at a meeting this coming week.
The commissioner said that she wants to inform everyone in the league on how it is approaching these conversations.
She also wanted to thank those who have responded to questions from the media with “thoughtfulness and professionalism.”
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Engelbert noted that the WNBA will “always approach this topic thoughtfully, respectfully, and in alignment with the longstanding values of our league.”
She also took note that the league’s eligibility rules are collectively bargained.
The top league official also assured everyone that the WNBA’s highest priority remains preserving the integrity of the sport and ensuring fair competition.
The league’s CBA states that “only players who are women are eligible to play in the WNBA.”
However, it failed to specify any word about gender identity or sex assigned at birth.
This brought in Tetart, who has expressed interest in playing in the WNBA.
The 34-year-old, 6’3″ star plays for Monaco in the French Ligue 2 and has won multiple individual awards in the 2025-26 season.
Her averages include 21.2 points, 20.2 rebounds, 2.6 steals and 2.0 assists per game.
Former NBA players keen to enter WNBA draft
Though Tetart has yet to announce her eligibility in the 2026 WNBA draft, two former NBA players, Enes Kanter Freedom and Royce White, declared themselves eligible for the WNBA draft, saying they identify as women.
Engelbert admitted that the issue is “complex and nuanced” and will discuss it further with the league’s stakeholders, particularly the Women’s National Basketball Players Association in the “weeks and months ahead.”
Meanwhile, the WNBPA reacted to the announcements by Kanter Freedom and White with a social media statement, emphasizing diversity and inclusion and stating that the group “will not be used as political pawns.”
“We embrace justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion,” the players’ union said.
“Those are the values that unite this Union and allow it to protect women’s sports while creating transformational change.
“Hate, abuse, and demonization of any person or group of people, including transgender people, only fuel fear, division, and harm.
“We will continue to have hard conversations. But we will not be used as political pawns.”
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