The WNBA announced on August 13, 2026, that it will not clarify its eligibility rules for players, which has raised concerns regarding the participation of transgender athletes in the league. The current guidelines state that "only players who are women are eligible to play in the WNBA," but do not specify whether this includes biological females or transgender women.
The decision follows protests from former NBA players Royce White and Enes Kanter Freedom, who expressed concerns about the ambiguity of the rules. After a meeting held by the league to discuss the issue, a WNBA spokesperson stated that there are "no immediate eligibility matters" affecting the league.
The spokesperson also condemned efforts to use the topic to marginalize others and emphasized that discussions regarding transgender athletes will continue among league stakeholders. The controversy has been heightened by Indiana Fever guard Sophie Cunningham's public statements supporting the inclusion of only biological female athletes in the league, which she described as a matter of protecting young girls in sports. Cunningham reiterated her position, stating that it is important to protect children and maintain fairness in competition.