The WNBA has found itself between a rock and a hard place ever since Sophie Cunningham revealed last month that she did not stand for trans athletes’ inclusion in the league.
The ongoing debate has raised concerns about whether the WNBA will cater to one side of the discourse rather than the other. Fox’s Jackson Thompson believes that doing so would be a mistake.
Analyst Does Not Want the WNBA To Follow the NBA’s Formula
Thompson spoke on the “Riley Gaines Show” about how the WNBA should address the ongoing trans-athlete debate that has gripped the public’s consciousness over the past month. He cited the NFL as an example that the WNBA should follow.
He said, “The NFL needs to be the baseline for what the WNBA tries to do. The NBA [has been] up and down. If it wasn’t for the Knicks, you’d see their ratings go down the last few years. If they try to match the NBA’s formula, they’ll fall short.”
“If they try to reach for the stars by trying to channel the NFL’s formula, they could do something special. The NFL doesn’t turn anyone away.”
Had a good talk with @Riley_Gaines_ about the WNBA and what’s gone wrong (or right) in the league’s biggest season yet. pic.twitter.com/yMyNl08xwx
— Jackson Thompson (@JackThompsonFOX) August 26, 2026
The WNBA has so far refused to delve into the issue. However, WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert hit out at those attempting to “use the league to sow divisiveness” amid the trans-athlete controversy.
“We’re being the center of political football for people who have never watched the WNBA, never have written about the WNBA or reported on the WNBA,” Engelbert said earlier this month.
Thompson argued that the WNBA must capitalize on its opportunities amid its rising popularity, and Gaines agreed.
“Not willing to lean in to what you would have to believe to be an incredibly profitably, business-wise moment for the WNBA. They wouldn’t even let Sophie Cunningham or as a league profit off the viral pointing meme,” Gaines said.
In 2025, the WNBA reached its revenue-sharing threshold for the first time in league history, triggering payouts to players. The league also generated roughly $200-300 million in revenue last season.
Clearly, the WNBA is on the right path. However, with sensitive issues plaguing the league, if Engelbert simply looked at it from a profitability standpoint, perhaps taking no political stand might be the way to maintain this upward trajectory.
