Key Points

• Sophie Cunningham, Indiana Fever guard in her eighth WNBA season, said she wants to protect young girls from competing against biological men in sport.
• Enes Kanter Freedom, who played 11 seasons in the NBA, declared himself a WNBA prospect citing current eligibility guidelines.
• WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert sent a memo to team presidents stating the league would discuss the matter at an upcoming meeting with focus on preserving game integrity.

The WNBA's collective bargaining agreement states that "only players who are women are eligible to play in the WNBA." However, this language has become the focal point of debate given the absence of detailed guidelines governing transgender athlete eligibility. WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert sent a memo to team presidents last week, which was seen by the Associated Press, indicating the league would address the matter at an upcoming pre-arranged meeting with team presidents.

Engelbert stated in the memo that the league would "always approach this topic thoughtfully, respectfully, and in alignment with the longstanding values of our league." She added that the league's "player eligibility rules, unlike the eligibility rules of some other leagues and governing bodies, are collectively bargained" and that "preserving the integrity of our game and ensuring fair competition will always remain among the league's highest priorities."

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Notably, no openly transgender woman has ever played in the WNBA, and no such player is scheduled to compete in the league, yet the debate has dominated headlines during the ongoing 2026 season. The league's reliance on collectively bargained eligibility rules distinguishes it from international sports governing bodies like the International Olympic Committee, which maintain separate eligibility frameworks. The WNBA's next formal discussion on the matter will occur at the scheduled meeting between Engelbert and team presidents, where the league's response to both Cunningham's comments and prospective draft entries will be determined.

Sources: BBC Sport and other international news outlets.

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