WNBA slams ‘bad-faith efforts’ to ‘marginalize others’ amid trans athlete debate

WNBA general managers and presidents discussed transgender athletes on Wednesday as part of an anti-hate task force meeting, and the league said afterward that there were “no immediate eligibility matters affecting” the W.

Read more Tennessee city council meeting erupts after vice mayor stands by scathing email telling resident to ‘go back into tree’

On top of that, the league slammed “bad-faith efforts” to “marginalize others.”

“Today’s meeting covered a wide range of topics, including ongoing discussions on transgender athletes and the continued hate and vitriol directed at players online,” a spokesperson for the league said in a statement provided to The Post. “We will continue to engage all league stakeholders in the coming weeks and months. We will approach these important conversations thoughtfully and in alignment with the values of our league.

“There are no immediate eligibility matters affecting the WNBA and we strongly denounce the bad-faith efforts to use these topics to demean or marginalize others.”

Debate has raged over trans athletes and their participation in the wake of Fever guard Sophie Cunningham’s recent comments to ESPN at the end of July.

“I got a lot of negative feedback about me hating trans. And I’m like, ‘I never once said that,’” Cunningham told the outlet. “I think that I am here to extend love. But I also think with that love is truth, being honest. And I want to protect young girls in a locker room, or young girls in sport who shouldn’t have to go against biological men.”

Following the interview with the Worldwide Leader, Cunningham told reporters before a Fever game that she believes her beliefs are “common sense.”

This month, former NBA player Enes Kanter Freedom asked the WNBA to accept his “decision to enter the player pool for the 2027 WNBA Draft,” while former NBAer Royce White also planned to declare his for the W’s draft.

On Tuesday, Kanter Freedom doubled down on his stance and posted a workout video with a caption: “Let ‘The Transition’ to the @WNBA begin,” Freedom wrote in a caption on the footage. “Rules Are Rules! #LetFreedomPlay.”

Read more Texas teacher breaks down in tears during class after his senior students struggled to read, write

The task force on Wednesday also discussed online hate that has been directed toward players, which remains a top priority for the league.

Going forward, the task force won’t be the only group involved in discussions surrounding trans athletes and the WNBA, which will consider the matter thoroughly and without giving energy to what it believes are publicity stunts meant to mock the league.

WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert said in a memo last week that in regard to trans athlete participation, the league will “always approach this topic thoughtfully, respectfully, and in alignment with the longstanding values of our league. Second, our player eligibility rules, unlike the eligibility rules of some other leagues and governing bodies, are collectively bargained.”

Fever coach Stephanie White, during an impassioned pregame interview before Tuesday’s win over the Liberty, was asked about a hard foul against Cunningham by Sky star DiJonai Carrington. She clarified her previous comments and said she always has her players’ backs.

“I take personally any suggestions that I don’t 100 percent always have my player’s back,” White told reporters. “I ride with them 10 toes down all the time — all the time,” she said. “They know that. It’s a shame that we can’t have an opportunity to talk about what great basketball they’re playing because they are f–king playing. 

“The reality is with me, I will always lead with love. I will always lead with grace, I will always lead with humility and I will always lead with integrity. Doesn’t mean I’ll always get it right. I’m also human. The hate, the fearmongering, the divisiveness, the stuff that’s trying to hijack our league will not win. It won’t win. We are united, we are connected. We will not be divided. Every day these women put their ass on the line. Every day. When they go low, we go high. Love will win. Grace will win. Humility will win, and kindness will win. I stand by them.

Read more California native emerges as possible replacement for White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt

“I’ll always stand by them. Everybody else can go to hell.”