The culture war engulfing the WNBA is showing no signs of slowing down after the players’ union called out the ‘demonization’ of trans people in the wake of Sophie Cunningham’s comments on protecting women’s sports.
The debate over trans athletes competing against biological women was thrust back into the spotlight recently when the Indiana Fever’s Cunningham spoke out about her views, telling ESPN that ‘young girls… shouldn’t have to go against biological men.’
Arguments on both sides of the issue have since spiraled out of control, and on Friday two former NBA stars in Enes Kanter Freedom and Royce White both announced their intention to declare for the 2027 WNBA Draft.
The WNBPA has now weighed in on the subject, appearing to go against Cunningham’s original comments in a bid to quell the ‘hate’ against the trans community.
In a bombshell statement, the organization said: ‘To everyone who loves this game: The WNBPA represents 200+ individual people with different lived experiences, cultures, lifestyles, and opinions.
‘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.
Sophie Cunningham’s comments have left fans, players and coaches in the WNBA divided
Cunningham’s views were not supported by the WNBPA in a recent statement on social media
‘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.
‘Support the Players. Support the Fans. At games, notify security if you witness hateful, violent, or abusive behavior. Online, report abusive posts and drown out the bots and bad actors. At home, tell your elected officials to strengthen Title IX.’
In the wake of Cunningham’s initial comments, in the ESPN piece published on July 21, protests both pro and anti-trans were held outside various WNBA arenas.
While some, such as Riley Gaines and Stephen A. Smith, have seemingly sided with the Fever star, others have openly criticized her and booed her on the court.
Recently, the bitter culture war deepened after Golden State Valkyries star Gabby Williams claimed she would happily welcome a trans player to her team.
‘I think trans rights, right now, is our new battle,’ Williams said in a recent interview, adding: ‘We see people’s trans rights being stripped away from them; there’s a lot of discourse around trans athletes and what they can compete in.
Royce White became the second former NBA player to declare for next year’s WNBA Draft
Ex-NBA star Enes Kanter Freedom also vowed to officially declare for the WNBA Draft in 2027
‘I would welcome a trans athlete on my team or against my team, anytime,’ Williams added. ‘I don’t think it’s a problem in the world.’
That theory was then tested on Friday when Kanter Freedom and White called the WNBA’s bluff and weighed in on the issue.
White, who is a candidate for the Republican Senate nomination in Minnesota, told Fox News Digital that he is now transgender and wants to join the likes of Caitlin Clark and Cunningham on the court next season.
‘I’m transgender. I’m a woman. I identify as sometimes identifying as a woman for purpose of basketball, professional basketball, so I’ll be declaring for the WNBA draft in 2027 as well,’ he said.
‘I think I’d be unstoppable. But I’m a team-first guy. I’m a pass-first kind of player. I do the little things. I led my team in all five major stat categories at Iowa State University, so I do a little bit of everything.
‘I’ll do whatever the coach needs me to do. I’ll do whatever the girls need me to do.’
Freedom’s announcement comes amid the WNBA’s bitter culture war after Cunningham advocated for restrictions to ‘protect young girls’ from ‘biological men’ in sports
WNBA star Gabby Williams recently claimed she would ‘welcome’ a transgender teammate
White, a former first-round draft pick who only played three games in the NBA for the Sacramento Kings, insisted that only the WNBA releasing ‘a definitive statement about guys with a pair of b**** playing in the Women’s Association’ could stop him.
‘I don’t want to be discriminated against,’ he continued. ‘I want fair treatment. I’m a young black, hopefully United States Senator, that would like a fair chance to participate as a sometimes-identifying-as-a-transgender-woman athlete.’
He also vowed to wear a wig while he’s playing and said WNBA players will have ‘nightmares… and they should’ about him potentially competing against them.
Earlier in the day, Kanter Freedom, who stands at 6ft 10ins, shared his own declaration for the WNBA Draft with his fans through a post on social media.
In a video, the former New York Knicks and Boston Celtics star said: ‘After careful consideration and reviewing the current eligibility guidelines, I’m officially declaring myself a @WNBA prospect.
‘If simply declaring who you are is all that’s required, then I meet every single requirement necessary to compete in the WNBA.
Minnesota Lynx head coach Cheryl Reeve recently wore a ‘Trans Kids Belong’ t-shirt
‘My team and I have carefully examined the WNBA’s eligibility criteria and governing framework surrounding self-identification and inclusion. Based on the current guidelines, I can and am officially declaring my eligibility for the upcoming WNBA draft in April 2027.
‘I know my presence on the court will stir up strong opinions. I am definitely not here to mock, make fun of, or disrespect any community or personal choices.
‘I’m simply asking that the current rules be applied equally to everyone – the rules that represent the very values many WNBA players and coaches have publicly advocated for.
‘My team and I are prepared to ensure these guidelines are applied equally, consistently, and without exception, and I look forward to the #WNBA honoring its stated principles. See you at training camp.’
