WNBA general managers and presidents discussed transgender athletes on Wednesday as part of an anti-hate task force meeting, and the league said afterward that there were \u201cno immediate eligibility matters affecting\u201d the W. <\/p>\n
On top of that, the league slammed \u201cbad-faith efforts\u201d to \u201cmarginalize others.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cToday\u2019s meeting covered a wide range of topics, including ongoing discussions on transgender athletes and the continued hate and vitriol directed at players online,\u201d a spokesperson for the league said in a statement provided to The Post. \u201cWe will continue to engage all league stakeholders in the coming weeks and months. We will approach these important conversations thoughtfully and in alignment with the values of our league. <\/p>\n
WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert speaks with media before the 2026 WNBA All Star Game at United Center in Chicago on July 25, 2026. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect<\/p>\n
\u201cThere are no immediate eligibility matters affecting the WNBA and we strongly denounce the bad-faith efforts to use these topics to demean or marginalize others.\u201d<\/p>\n
Debate has raged over trans athletes and their participation in the wake of Fever guard Sophie Cunningham\u2019s recent comments to ESPN<\/a> at the end of July. <\/p>\n \u201cI got a lot of negative feedback about me hating trans. And I\u2019m like, \u2018I never once said that,\u2019\u201d Cunningham told the outlet. \u201cI 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\u2019t have to go against biological men.\u201d<\/p>\n Following the interview with the Worldwide Leader, Cunningham told reporters<\/a> before a Fever game that she believes her beliefs are \u201ccommon sense.\u201d<\/p>\n This month, former NBA player Enes Kanter Freedom asked the WNBA<\/a> to accept his \u201cdecision to enter the player pool for the 2027 WNBA Draft,\u201d while former NBAer Royce White also planned to declare<\/a> his for the W\u2019s draft.<\/p>\n Indiana head coach Stephanie White talks with guard Sophie Cunningham during the first half of the Fever\u2019s win over the Liberty on Agu. 11, 2026 in Indianapolis. AP Photo\/Michael Conroy<\/p>\n On Tuesday, Kanter Freedom doubled down on his stance and posted a workout video with a caption: \u201cLet \u2018The Transition\u2019 to the @WNBA begin,\u201d Freedom wrote in a caption on the footage. \u201cRules Are Rules! #LetFreedomPlay.\u201d<\/p>\n The task force on Wednesday also discussed online hate that has been directed toward players, which remains a top priority for the league. <\/p>\n Going forward, the task force won\u2019t be the only group involved in discussions surrounding trans athletes and the WNBA, which will consider the matter thoroughly and without giving energy to what it believes are publicity stunts meant to mock the league.<\/p>\n Knicks forward Carmelo Anthony waits for a rebound alongside Jazz center Enes
Kanter on Nov. 14, 2014. Anthony J. Causi \/ New York Post<\/p>\n