A memo leaked from commissioner Cathy Engelbert says the WNBA is set to review the issue of transgender athlete participation in the league during a meeting next week.
The development follows comments from Indiana Fever guard Sophie Cunningham that drew widespread attention in July. In an ESPN report published on July 21, she said she wanted to “protect young girls in a locker room” and argued that “they shouldn’t have to go against biological men.” She repeated that position the following day, adding to the debate.
According to The Associated Press, Engelbert circulated the memo to teams on Friday afternoon as questions around the subject continued to build. The memo was sent the same day that two former NBA players, Enes Kanter Freedom and Royce White, declared themselves eligible for the 2027 WNBA Draft, saying they identify as women.
“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,” she wrote.
“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.”
The memo says the matter will be taken up by a task force made up of team presidents and general managers at a meeting that had already been scheduled for next week. Engelbert also wrote that the league would “always approach this topic thoughtfully, respectfully, and in alignment with the longstanding values of our league.”
She continued, “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 memo also states, “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.”
“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.”
The league’s collective bargaining agreement includes the sentence, “Only players who are women are eligible to play in the WNBA.” It does not spell out separate criteria related to sex assigned at birth or gender identity.
The WNBA players’ association addressed the issue in its own statement. “We embrace justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion. Those are the values that unite this Union and allow it to protect women’s sports while creating transformational change.
“Hate, abuse, and demonization of any person or group of people, including transgender people, only fuel fear, division, and harm. We will continue to have hard conversations. But we will not be used as political pawns.”