As the WNBA community continues to debate the participation of transgender athletes in the league, a five-time NBA champion has joined the conversation.
Reacting to a question posted on X (“Should the WNBA allow transgender athletes to compete?”), Ron Harper offered a blunt response.
Harper’s objection is one of the latest opinions to be voiced in this debate, which picked up in earnest after Sophie Cunningham’s remarks about biological males were published in an ESPN feature.
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Inside and outside the WNBA, sports personalities have taken sides in this discussion. At a tournament in Toronto this week, world No. 1 women’s tennis player Aryna Sabalenka supported the idea of a one-time gender test, a new rule introduced by the Women’s Tennis Association.
“I think it’s really important to keep the fairness in our tour. It’s obvious that, biologically, the men are way stronger than women. So, I feel like it would be not really fair for the women to compete against biological men.”
Meanwhile, Golden State Valkyries star Gabby Williams relayed a different opinion during a media availability on Thursday.
“I would welcome a trans athlete on my team or against my team any time.”
Fans have also been heavily invested in the debate, with some Cunningham supporters staging rallies in Seattle, Portland, and Minnesota to express solidarity with her take on biological males.
The Indiana Fever‘s matchup against the Minnesota Lynx was a story in and of itself, as Lynx coach Cheryl Reeve decided to wear a shirt saying “Trans kids belong” during the game.
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“No One Is Being Excluded”: Clay Travis Blasts WNBA Coaches for “Toxic Empathy”
As for OutKick founder Clay Travis, he has taken issue with WNBA coaches like the Lynx’s Reeve and the Valkyries’ Natalie Nakase, who have advocated for inclusivity in the league.
On Thursday’s episode of “The Clay Travis Show,” Travis called out these coaches for what he sees as a common trait.
“A lot of women are being taken advantage of, in my opinion, with this toxic empathy…No one is being excluded. If you are a man, you compete in men’s sports. If you are a woman, you compete in women’s sports.”
Travis went on to highlight other divisions in sports, such as weight classes, which ensure fighters who weigh less won’t be at a disadvantage against heavier competitors.
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