The WNBA’s ongoing debate over transgender athletes reached the commissioner’s desk this week, and Cathy Engelbert did not stay silent for long. With two former NBA players now formally entering the conversation, the league felt compelled to respond directly to its teams.
What Did Cathy Engelbert Say?
Engelbert sent a memo to WNBA teams on Friday afternoon addressing the ongoing discussions around transgender athlete participation in women’s basketball, a copy of which was obtained by The Associated Press and ESPN.
“I know many of you have received questions in recent weeks regarding transgender athlete participation in women’s basketball, and I expect this topic will continue to receive significant attention,” Engelbert wrote. “I wanted to reach out to share how we are approaching these conversations at the league office and to thank those of you who have responded to questions from the media with thoughtfulness and professionalism.”
Engelbert wrote that the league will “always approach this topic thoughtfully, respectfully, and in alignment with the longstanding values of our league,” while noting that the WNBA’s player eligibility rules, unlike those of some other leagues and governing bodies, are collectively bargained rather than unilaterally set by the league office.
She added that “preserving the integrity of our game and ensuring fair competition will always remain among the league’s highest priorities.”
According to ESPN, the memo also confirmed that the topic will be discussed further next week by a task force of team presidents and general managers during a previously scheduled meeting.
The memo comes just hours after two former NBA players, Enes Kanter Freedom and Royce White, both declared themselves eligible for the 2027 WNBA Draft on Friday, each saying he identifies as a woman.
White announced he identifies as transgender “sometimes, for purpose of basketball, professional basketball,” and said he would only reconsider his declaration if the league issued a definitive statement on the matter.
Imagine needing to conduct a meeting just to figure out what a woman is so men cannot play in your sport. This society is a joke. https://t.co/ftMvAWYnP6
— Alex Stone (@Realalexstone) August 8, 2026
The WNBA world reacted quite hostilely to Engelbert’s statement today. One user bluntly stated, “Imagine needing to conduct a meeting just to figure out what a woman is so men cannot play in your sport. This society is a joke.”
Another X user said, “This doesn’t require a meeting. We live in stupid times.”
“This is a hate crime why is the WNBA so transphobic,” another fan echoed the same sentiment as the others.
Another X user also weighed in on the statement with a sarcastic comment. “Enes Kanter Freedom broke them,” she said.
The controversy traces back to comments Indiana Fever guard Sophie Cunningham made in a July ESPN feature voicing support for barring transgender athletes from women’s sports.
Those remarks have since prompted rallies outside multiple Fever road games, public statements from coaches, including Minnesota’s Cheryl Reeve, in support of transgender inclusion.
Whether next week’s meeting between the league’s team presidents and general managers produces any formal policy change remains to be seen. But Engelbert’s memo makes clear the league is not ignoring the pressure building around the issue, even as it stops short of announcing any immediate rule changes.
