Cathy Engelbert told WNBA teams the league is weighing transgender eligibility policies, per a memo sent August 8th.
Engelbert's note followed a letter from Enes Kanter Freedom, entering the former NBA center into the 2027 WNBA Draft. Hours later, ex-NBA forward Royce White filed similar paperwork.
WNBA Responds to Enes Kanter Freedom Draft Letter
The league's collective bargaining agreement states that "only players who are women are eligible to play in the WNBA." It includes no further language on gender identity or sex assigned at birth. Subsequently, a task force of team presidents and general managers will take up the topic next week.
Engelbert framed the review as measured.
The league will "always approach this topic thoughtfully, respectfully, and in alignment with the longstanding values of our league," she wrote.
She added that WNBA 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."
WNBA Union Responds to Trans Athlete Conversation
The WNBA union wrote its own letter. The WNBPA addressed the trans athlete controversy and Enes Kanter Freedom WNBA stunt that same week.
The WNBPA said its members "will not be used as political pawns" while pointing to inclusion as a core value.
"Hate, abuse, and demonization of any person or group of people, including transgender people, only fuel fear, division, and harm," the statement read.
Engelbert closed her memo by inviting more input, calling this "a complex and nuanced topic" and pledging further conversations with the Players Association "in the weeks and months ahead."
Debate over trans athletes has overtaken the league since Indiana Fever guard Sophie Cunningham's late-July remarks on ESPN.
