Sophie Cunningham’s stance on keeping biological men from competing against women has dragged Julie Tétart into the controversy.
On Tuesday, some of the Indiana Fever star’s supporters dared WNBA teams to sign Tétart, a transgender athlete dominating France’s Ligue 2, to prove her point.
Hours later, a former ESPN anchor reacted to the Monaco star’s reported intent to join the WNBA.
Former ESPN Star Sounds Off on Julie Tétart’s Potential WNBA Move Amid Sophie Cunningham Debate
Tétart’s name has become one of the hottest additions in the debate over transgender athletes competing in women’s sports.
After the French standout said earlier this week that she would welcome the opportunity to play in the WNBA, former ESPN host Sage Steele wasted little time making her position known.
“He can keep the braided ponytail and the breast implants forever, but Julie will never be a woman. This whole thing is literally stupid,” the former “SportsCenter” anchor tweeted.
He can keep the braided ponytail and the breast implants forever, but Julie will never be a woman. This whole thing is literally stupid. https://t.co/6joLta5nZU
— Sage Steele (@sagesteele) August 5, 2026
Tétart, who announced in 2021 that she is a transgender athlete, dominated France’s Ligue 2 this past season. The 34-year-old center averaged 21 points and 20 rebounds per game en route to capturing Domestic Player of the Year, Defensive Player of the Year, and Player of the Year honors.
Ironically, despite sweeping nearly every major individual award, Tétart did not win league MVP. According to multiple reports, some voters declined to support her because of the controversy surrounding transgender athletes competing in women’s basketball.
That debate has only intensified in recent days.
Highlights of Tétart’s dominant performances have gone viral across social media. A photo showcasing her muscular 6-foot-3 frame has fueled even more discussion, with Cunningham’s supporters using it to stress their point.
After Cunningham argued that biological males should not compete against women, several prominent WNBA figures, including Minnesota Lynx coach Cheryl Reeve, pushed back, emphasizing that inclusion rather than exclusion should guide the league’s approach.
Steele has consistently defended Cunningham throughout the controversy.
Last week, she criticized Fever coach Stephanie White after White declined to publicly back her player.
White explained that she was not “educated enough from a scientific standpoint” to support Cunningham’s position. Steele responded by calling the coach’s remarks “a shame.”
The discussion has now extended beyond basketball.
On Tuesday, New York Yankees minority owner Patrick Bet-David urged the WNBA to adopt a policy similar to the Women’s Tennis Association, which recently introduced one-time biological sex testing for athletes. Such a rule would effectively prevent transgender women from competing in the league.
Whether the WNBA ultimately follows the WTA’s lead remains to be seen. But if Tétart’s comments about pursuing a WNBA career are any indication, the debate surrounding transgender athletes, and the divide it has created across sports and politics, is unlikely to go away anytime soon.
