The WNBA’s handling of the growing debate around transgender athletes continues to attract criticism. Recently, NBA player Kyle Kuzma called out WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert over how the league has handled the issue.
Now, the founder and CEO of activist apparel brand XX-XY Athletics has offered Engelbert a suggestion as the WNBA prepares to discuss its eligibility rules.
XX-XY Athletics Founder’s Suggestion to Cathy Engelbert
Jennifer Sey offered some advice to the league ahead of this week’s meeting. She told the WNBA to just take the loss and admit it got things wrong. Her suggestion was for the league to come out and say pro sports were never meant to be about “inclusion” in the way people have been pushing it, and that a clear line needs to be drawn.
“My 2 cents to the WNBA for their meeting this week. Take the L. Say: ‘We were wrong. Pro sports aren’t about inclusion. We need to set a clear boundary.’ A woman is an adult human female & we’re going to test for sex. Just like the IOC & WTA. Do the right thing and put it behind you,” Sey wrote on X on Monday.
My 2 cents to the @WNBA for their meeting this week.
Take the L. Say: “We were wrong. Pro sports aren’t about inclusion. We need to set a clear boundary.”
A woman is an adult human female & we’re going to test for sex. Just like the IOC & WTA. Do the right thing and put it…
— Jennifer Sey (@JenniferSey) August 10, 2026
Sey has been heavily involved in the cause and has also organized “Sophie Night” rallies outside Fever games in support of guard Sophie Cunningham, whose comments last month kicked off this entire debate.
As for the league itself, Engelbert let teams know on Friday that this topic will get discussed at a meeting with team presidents and general managers that was already on the calendar for this week.
In the memo, the commissioner added that this is a complicated and layered issue and that talks with teams and the players’ association will continue in the weeks ahead.
Whatever gets decided could carry real weight beyond just talk. Former NBA player Royce White, who recently declared for the 2027 WNBA Draft after saying he identifies as a woman for basketball purposes, made one thing clear in his own announcement.
He claimed the only thing that would make him step back if the league issued a definitive statement that men cannot play.
“I think the WNBA needs to make a definitive statement about guys with a pair of balls playing in the women’s association. But hey, that would probably be too much, right?” White stated.
So, depending on how firm the WNBA gets this week, it could actually settle whether declarations as his go anywhere at all.
