Golden State forward Gabby Williams said Thursday she would welcome a transgender teammate or opponent, weighing in on the debate that has followed the league for three weeks.
Williams, who signed a three-year, $3.7 million deal with the Valkyries in April after four seasons in Seattle, is coming off the best year of her career.
The debate has an unusual feature: no publicly known trans woman has ever played in the WNBA. The league’s 2026 collective bargaining agreement, signed in March, says “only players who are women are eligible to play in the WNBA.”
WNBA World Torches Gabby Williams’ Remarks on Accepting Trans Athletes to the League
On Thursday, Williams shared her view, which went viral on social media. She claimed that the idea of giving transgender athletes an opportunity to play in women’s sports apparently became the league’s new battle, and there has been a lot of talk about them and what they are capable of doing.
“I would welcome a trans athlete on my team or against my team, anytime,” Williams said. “I don’t think it’s a problem in the world. It’s just another way to kind of attack trans people.”
WNBA star Gabby Williams supports trans women playing in the league:
“I would welcome a trans athlete on my team or against my team.” pic.twitter.com/5DKMjXC040
— BrickCenter (@BrickCenter_) August 6, 2026
The reaction split along the same lines as the Cunningham debate has followed for weeks.
“This is beyond weird. A man is a man vice versa. Men should never be allowed in women sports,” one user wrote on social media.
This is beyond weird. A man is a man vice versa. Men should never be allowed in women sports
— Kita B. (@cutientheuni) August 7, 2026
Another user wondered about NBA Commissioner Adam Silver’s reaction when he opens his computer and browses Williams’ view.
“I wonder how Adam Silver feels seeing them burn his investment like this,” the user posted.
“This is such an odd conversation bc it’s not like there’s a trans woman currently trying to enter the league, but let’s be real ok?,” another WNBA enthusiast claimed.
Williams cited WNBA veteran Layshia Clarendon, who came out as transgender and nonbinary in 2020 and became the first active player in league history to undergo top surgery in 2021.
“We’ve seen players like Layshia Clarendon, who stepped into that forefront, and have been brave enough, and courageous enough, to step up. So I guess that’s the next battle we have to fight as athletes,” Williams said.
However, Ian Miller, the author of “Unmasked” and “Illusion of Control,” felt the issue had already been grossly overblown.
“Said it before, and I’ll say it again, I’ve never seen an organization more committed to destroying itself than the WNBA. It’s incredible,” he commented.
A fan account offered a two-word take on Williams’ view to sum everything up.
“Seriously (expletive),” the account wrote.
Over the past few months, Cunningham’s stance against transgender players participating in women’s and girls’ sports has drawn mixed reviews, with some online WNBA supporters backing her with conviction.
The Indiana Fever guard also drew criticism for her comments, particularly from LGBTQ+ advocates, leaving coaches divided on the issue.
