Two Ex-NBA Players Target WNBA Rules over Transgender Eligibility
Commissioner Cathy Engelbert said the league will hold further discussions after two former NBA players declared for the 2027 draft.
- Commissioner Cathy Engelbert announced the WNBA will hold a meeting to review eligibility definitions after former NBA players Enes Kanter Freedom and Royce White declared intent to enter the 2027 WNBA Draft.
- The league's collective bargaining agreement includes detailed definitions for dozens of terms but fails to define "woman" or "women," as OutKick and Fox News Digital reported, leaving eligibility requirements unclear.
- White stated his declaration tests league policies, while Freedom hired legal counsel to ensure his rights are not violated should the WNBA deny his participation.
- In a memo to team leaders, Engelbert acknowledged the league office is approaching these conversations with "thoughtfulness and professionalism," noting the complex topic will receive significant attention in coming months.
- This debate follows comments from Indiana Fever guard Sophie Cunningham, who recently expressed support for restricting women's sports to biological females, adding pressure on the WNBA to clarify its rules.
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16 Articles
WNBA Execs Meet Over Transgender Policy, Still Haven't Figured Out Eligibility Rules After Two Ex-NBA Players Join WNBA Draft
The WNBA still has not figured out its transgender policy. Last week, former NBA players Enes Kanter and Royce White tested out the WNBA’s eligibility rules by declaring for the WNBA draft. WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert responded by sending out a memo to teams saying they would meet this week to clarify their eligibility rules. […] The post WNBA Execs Meet Over Transgender Policy, Still Haven’t Figured Out Eligibility Rules After Two Ex-NBA …
WNBA can’t define a woman. Now men are declaring for the draft.
WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert has announced that a league task force has been formed to discuss the topic of transgender athletes.“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 a memo.“Go ahead, laugh at the WNBA. The league is a joke. Cathy Englebert has formed a task for…
Stephen A. Smith urges WNBA to 'take a stand' against Republicans politicizing league: 'Stop whining'
Screenshot from The Stephen A. Smith ShowAs the WNBA watches the right continue to hijack narratives around the sport for political gain, Stephen A. Smith is urging the league to take a stand. Last month, Smith posed the irrational question of, “What if an NBA player decided to transition to playing in the WNBA?” To be clear, there has never been a transgender athlete in the WNBA; there has never been a transgender athlete who has fought for the…
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