The WNBA’s debate over transgender athletes has moved into a much wider sports conversation. Sophie Cunningham‘s comments on the issue have drawn strong reactions, while former NBA players Enes Kanter Freedom and Royce White have turned their views into a direct challenge to the league’s eligibility rules.
Now, a Chicago Bears legend has made his position clear.
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Brian Urlacher Backs Enes Kanter, Royce White amid Sophie Cunningham Controversy
Brian Urlacher, the Pro Football Hall of Fame linebacker and longtime Bears star, weighed in on the controversy during an appearance on “The Sage Steele Show.” Urlacher expressed support for Kanter Freedom and White after the former NBA players announced plans to enter the 2027 WNBA Draft as a form of protest.
Urlacher first connected the issue to his family before addressing Cunningham’s situation directly, and then explained why the WNBA discussion carries particular significance for him.
“I have daughters. It makes it easier to (discuss) this thing about WNBA and Sophie Cunningham, all the things they’re going through,” Urlacher said, referring to the backlash and support for the WNBA star after her public stance on the transgender issue.
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Urlacher then turned his attention to Kanter and White, who have positioned their 2027 draft declarations as a challenge to the WNBA’s eligibility language.
“I’m so happy for the 2027 draft class, by the way, for WNBA,” Urlacher added. “Enes Kanter, Royce White. What a great class, right? This is going to be amazing, it could be the best draft class ever for WNBA.”
He continued with a pointed reference to the league’s biggest star, adding, “And those are the only two players besides Caitlin Clark. I can’t name anyone else that have been drafted in the WNBA. But I’m really excited for the 2027 draft class.”
Urlacher’s comments came after Cunningham publicly addressed transgender participation in women’s sports. The Indiana Fever guard previously, in July, told ESPN that she wanted “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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Cunningham later described her position as “common sense,” pushing the issue further into the national sports conversation. Her comments drew support from conservative political figures while also producing criticism and protests.
Kanter and White entered the debate soon afterward. They claim the WNBA’s current wording leaves an opening because its rules say only women can play without clearly defining the term or specifying biological requirements.
Kanter said, “Rules are rules,” while expressing his satirical interest in the 2027 WNBA Draft. Meanwhile, White has picked a formal route, after getting a declaration signed from former congressman and lawyer Matt Gaetz, who said, “As of the signing of the attached declaration, Ms. White identifies as a transgender woman.”
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The WNBA has rejected the campaign, describing it as “bad-faith efforts” aimed at demeaning or marginalizing people. The league also said there were no immediate eligibility issues affecting the WNBA.
This article originally appeared on Pro Football Network.
