WNBA, NBA Stay Silent on Transgender Eligibility as 2 Leagues Face Mounting Criticism
Updated
Updated · Fox News · Aug 27
WNBA, NBA Stay Silent on Transgender Eligibility as 2 Leagues Face Mounting Criticism
3 articles · Updated · Fox News · Aug 27
Summary
Both the WNBA and NBA declined comment after questions about Commissioner Cathy Engelbert’s silence on transgender eligibility, extending a policy vacuum that has pushed coaches and players into the debate.
The dispute centers on the WNBA’s CBA language that says only women are eligible to play but does not define who qualifies as a woman, leaving room for interpretation and continued transgender inclusion.
Phoenix Mercury coach Nate Tibbetts said the issue belongs with the league office, echoing earlier complaints that coaches are being forced to answer for unresolved league policy instead of focusing on basketball.
The pressure has intensified after draft declarations by Enes Kanter Freedom and Royce White and broader questions about competitive fairness, turning eligibility into a recurring public controversy for league leadership.