There is one question that has been asked across the WNBA over the last month, and it’s about the inclusion of transgender athletes in women’s sports. The debate has continued to gain momentum since Indiana Fever guard Sophie Cunningham spoke publicly about protecting women’s sports for biological women.
Golden State Valkyries head coach Natalie Nakase was recently asked about the issue, and she approached it from a different angle. As Nakase explained that her own experiences shape her views, the focus was more on inclusion rather than competitive fairness.
Advertisement
Nakase said she had dealt with criticism about her height and background and wanted to create an environment in the WNBA where players feel accepted rather than judged.
But that explanation did not sit well with Tennis legend Marina Navratilova, who has consistently argued that women’s sports should remain limited to biological females.
Navratilova rejected Nakase’s argument
When Natalie said she wants women and young girls to have opportunities to play basketball, she also stated that she is including trans women in that.
Advertisement
The 18-time singles Grand Slam champion retweeted her comments on X, arguing that the debate cannot be stopped at including biological men if it comes at the expense of women competing for roster spots.
“How is including males on women’s team inclusive for the female athlete who lost that spot to a male?” Navratilova wrote. “The ignorance is astounding.”
The tennis legend has been a vocal supporter on this issue and has also shared many social media posts opposing the inclusion of trans women in women’s basketball.
Advertisement
What makes this disagreement notable is that both women are talking about fairness, but they are just defining it differently. But it’s not only the Valyries head coach that has opposed Cunningham’s stance.
Other WNBA voices have taken a different route
Fever head coach Stephanie White was also questioned about the same, though she took a cautious approach. She admitted she is not fully educated on the science behind the debate, but said she does not believe exclusion is the solution.
Advertisement
Then, during the Minnesota Lynx‘s game against the Fever on August 2, head coach Cheryl Reeve was seen wearing a shirt that said, “Trans Kids Belong,” supporting the inclusion of transgender women.
The Fever guard was met with loud boos during that game. Still, Cunningham has continued to stand by her views that started the debate.
“I’m there to love, but I’m also there to love biological women, and I think there are rights that need to be protected,” Cunningham said, via James Boyd. “Like I said, I’m going to stand true to that. I’m never going to falter in my beliefs in that. But I have never once said I hated the trans community. Like I said, I think there’s space for everyone.”
Advertisement
Cunningham first addressed the subject during an ESPN interview in July 2026, saying her concern was protecting young girls and women in sports. She argued that women’s competition should remain reserved for biological females and framed her position as one rooted in fairness rather than any kind of hate towards the trans community.
Many tried to make her statement a part of her political inclination, but Sophie clarified that her thoughts are not driven by any political views. She just believes she is being honest about where she stands and has continued to point to Title IX and the generations of female athletes who fought for equal opportunities.
This story was originally published by Basketball Network on Aug 3, 2026, where it first appeared in the Off The Court section. Add Basketball Network as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
