WNBA commissioner says league will keep discussing transgender athlete policy

WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert sent a memo to all teams indicating that discussions about transgender athletes in women's basketball will continue. She said a task force of team presidents and general managers is scheduled to meet next week to address the issue further. Engelbert noted that the league’s player eligibility rules are collectively bargained and that preserving the integrity of the game and ensuring fair competition remain top priorities. The collective bargaining agreement specifies that only players who are women may compete, without detailing gender identity criteria. Former NBA players Enes Kanter Freedom and Royce White announced they consider themselves eligible for the WNBA draft as women. The Women’s National Basketball Players Association released a statement reaffirming its commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion while rejecting political exploitation of the debate. Some players and coaches, such as Seattle Storm center Stefanie Dolson and Minnesota Lynx coach Cheryl Reeve, have publicly supported transgender athletes, describing it as a human-rights issue.