Enes Kanter’s ejection during Sunday’s Indiana Fever-Chicago Sky matchup has added fresh fuel to the already raging WNBA trans athlete controversy.
Now, famous journalist-turned-podcaster Pablo Torre has added another twist to the saga, framing it as a distraction from President Donald Trump’s “financially corrupt regime.”
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Pablo Torre Claims WNBA’s Trans Controversy Is Being Used As ‘Distraction’
When Kanter framed his ejection as the league’s way of curbing support for women, Torre came down hard on the former NBA big man. Taking to X, Torre ripped Kanter for playing the victim card after his altercation with Sky guard Natasha Cloud, calling it “insanely pathetic.”
“I think we can all agree that stepping out toward the baseline in the middle of a WNBA game, getting ejected on purpose, and immediately claiming to be a victim is insanely pathetic,” Torre posted.
That did not end the exchange, though. Instead, Torre was challenged by right-wing critics who wanted him to address the larger question behind the controversy.
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Sports & State founder Clay Travis was particularly direct.
“Pablo, what is a woman?” Travis asked under Torre’s X post.
Responding to the backlash, Torre fired back with a pointed jab that took the argument well beyond Kanter, Cloud, and the WNBA, shifting the focus to the broader political landscape.
“A category where >99% of the people were born with a vagina. And the other <1% are being used as bait to distract from the most financially corrupt regime in U.S. history,” Torre responded.
The final part of his retort was the bigger shot. Torre argued that the transgender debate is being amplified by right-wing voices as a political distraction, rather than simply being treated as a legitimate question about sports and eligibility.
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The comment came amid broader criticism of the Trump administration’s handling of the U.S. economy. The administration has faced scrutiny over tariffs, federal spending, inflation, and the cost of living, while the White House has defended its economic agenda and argued that its policies will strengthen American industry and economic growth.
The transgender athlete debate, meanwhile, stretches well beyond Kanter. Sophie Cunningham‘s comments about protecting biological female athletes have made her one of the league’s most polarizing figures, drawing support from prominent figures outside the WNBA, including Vice President JD Vance.
Kanter stepped directly into that same fight. His declaration for the 2027 WNBA Draft earlier this month and his public campaign around protecting women’s sports have made him another prominent voice in the controversy.
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His ejection gave him another opportunity to push that message, while Torre used the moment to attack what he sees as the political machinery behind the debate.
This article originally appeared on Pro Football Network.
