Ever since Indiana Fever star Sophie Cunningham took a stand against transgender athletes competing in women’s sports, the issue has been the subject of much debate throughout the league and the country. Now, WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert has officially broken her silence on the matter.
While Engelbert and the league still have not issued a public statement on the matter, the commissioner did send a league-wide memo acknowledging the issue and offering a timeline for when discussion on the matter will take place.
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Cunningham’s Comments
Last month, Cunningham ignited this nationwide debate when she was quoted as speaking out against transgender athletes in an ESPN article.
During an interview for an ESPN profile, Cunningham was asked about her political beliefs, including the “MAGA Barbie” nickname that she has been given after assumptions about her political leanings. In response, the Indiana Fever guard shared her opinion on transgender athletes competing in women’s sports.
“I got a lot of negative feedback about me hating trans. And I’m like, ‘I never once said that,'” she 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.”
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While the comments were from an interview done back in February, Cunningham doubled down on that stance, describing her opinion as “common sense.”
“I said what I said. I think it’s kind of common sense,” Cunningham said last month. “And I think I’ll always believe in that. I think it’s really important to protect children, and that’s little girls who are also involved in that category. I stand on what I said.”
Cunningham later addressed the issue again in a post on X while responding to a recent incident involving two teenage girls who said they were verbally confronted by a Seattle Storm co-owner, who was later suspended.
“I truly believe there is a safe space and love for EVERYBODY. Biological girls, biological boys, trans women, and trans men. Everyone is welcome at my table! You can disagree and still be kind,” Cunningham wrote in a post on X. “Bravo to those girls for standing up for what they believe. You’ll be hearing from me soon yay for gifts. Truly embarrassing of the co-owner.”
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Cunningham has since indicated that she has no plans to back away from the criticism surrounding her comments, but she did express a desire to focus on basketball.
Engelbert Issues Memo
Cunningham’s comments ignited a flurry of media coverage, postgame press conferences, and even protests at WNBA games. While the league still has not addressed the issue or Cunningham’s comments publicly, Engelbert did send a memo throughout the league this weekend.
“I know many of you have received questions in recent weeks regarding transgender athlete participation in women’s basketball, and I expect this topic will continue to receive significant attention,” Engelbert wrote in the memo, which was sent Friday afternoon and obtained by The Associated Press and ESPN. “I wanted to reach out to share how we are approaching these conversations at the league office and to thank those of you who have responded to questions from the media with thoughtfulness and professionalism.”
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According to ESPN, the memo goes on to say that the issue will be discussed next week by a task force of team presidents and general managers at a previously scheduled meeting.
As far as any decision regarding transgender athletes, Engelbert said that the league will “always approach this topic thoughtfully, respectfully, and in alignment with the longstanding values of our league. Second, our player eligibility rules, unlike the eligibility rules of some other leagues and governing bodies, are collectively bargained. Lastly, preserving the integrity of our game and ensuring fair competition will always remain among the league’s highest priorities.”
The issue took a new turn on Friday when two former NBA players, Enes Kanter Freedom and Royce White, declared themselves eligible for the WNBA draft, saying they identify as women. The league’s collective bargaining agreement states that “only players who are women are eligible to play in the WNBA,” but it does not include any more specific language about gender identity or sex assigned at birth.
“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.”
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