The WNBA spoke out about the “bad-faith” actors who have been dominating the discussion surrounding transgender athletes and online hate after a task force meeting on Wednesday.
WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert, team presidents and general managers met Wednesday at a previously scheduled meeting and addressed both topics among others.
“Today’s meeting covered a wide range of topics, including ongoing discussions on transgender athletes and the continued hate and vitriol directed at players online,” the league said through a spokesperson. “We 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.
“There 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.”
“Today’s meeting covered a wide range of topics, including ongoing discussions on transgender athletes and the continued hate and vitriol directed at players online,” the league said through a spokesperson. “We 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.
“There 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.”
There are no transgender players in the WNBA or preparing to enter the WNBA. The CBA also states that “only players who are women are eligible to play in the WNBA.”
Despite those facts, transgender athletes have been a large topic of discussion around the league in recent weeks after Indiana Fever guard Sophie Cunningham spoke out on the topic in an ESPN feature. She supported barring transgender athletes from women’s sports, which led to anti-trans protests outside of Fever away games and an incident between a Seattle Storm minority owner and two Cunningham fans.
Naturally, the topic of transgender athletes in the WNBA has spread like wildfire on social media and elsewhere ever since. It’s something that’s been co-opted by more than one former men’s professional basketball player, too. Many within the WNBA, including Minnesota Lynx coach Cheryl Reeve, have spoken out about the importance of inclusion. Reeve even wore a shirt that read, “Trans Kids Belong” during a game against the Fever.
“[The league will] always approach this topic thoughtfully, respectfully, and in alignment with the longstanding values of our league,” Engelbert said in a memo to teams on Friday. “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.
Enjoying this article? Support our work with a small crypto donation.“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.”
“[The league will] always approach this topic thoughtfully, respectfully, and in alignment with the longstanding values of our league,” Engelbert said in a memo to teams on Friday. “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.
“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.”
The players association also issued a statement last Friday condemning recent hate and abuse.
“We embrace justice equity, diversity, and inclusion,” the WNBPA said. “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.”
“We embrace justice equity, diversity, and inclusion,” the WNBPA said. “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.”
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