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NEED TO KNOW
- The WNBA issued a statement slamming those using “bad faith” narratives to “demean or marginalize others” after holding a meeting with a task force to discuss transgender eligibility
- “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,” the statement to ESPN said
- Cunningham’s comments have sparked intense discussion around the WNBA
As the WNBA continues to feel the impact of Indiana Fever guard Sophie Cunningham’s comments about transgender athletes, the league slammed those who are using the topic to “demean or marginalize others.”
On Wednesday, Aug. 12, the WNBA released a statement to ESPN sharing the results of a meeting between a “task force” of team presidents and general managers to discuss transgender athletes in the league. “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 statement began.
“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,” the league said, per ESPN.
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Cunningham’s initial comments on the topic, which came in an ESPN profile, were met with both intense backlash and support. A number of rallies were scheduled for outside of Fever games in support of the Fever guard, and an incident between supporters of Cunningham’s and Seattle Storm owner Celese Keaton made headlines.
“I got a lot of negative feedback about me hating trans,” Cunningham said in her ESPN profile in July, adding, “And I’m like, ‘I never once said that.’ I think that I am here to extend love. But I also think with that love is truth, being honest. And I want to protect young girls in a locker room, or young girls in sport who shouldn’t have to go against biological men.”
Multiple current and former WNBA personalities spoke out against Cunningham’s comments, like Storm center Stefanie Dolson who wore a shirt in support of trans rights before her game against the Fever, and Minnesota Lynx head coach Cheryl Reeve, who also sported a “trans kids belong” shirt while facing Cunningham.
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Cunningham’s teammate Caitlin Clark broke her silence on the topic during a press conference on Aug. 2. “I think it’s for leagues and governing bodies to work with their athletes to find solutions,” Clark, 24, told reporters following the Indiana Fever’s 108-100 loss to the Lynx.
“Our focus is on basketball. That’s what we talk about and how we can get wins and obviously we didn’t do that tonight. So we need to find an area to improve in that way,” Clark said.
There are currently no transgender athletes playing in the WNBA nor have there been any in the league’s 30-year history.
Read the original article on People