3 minSports
WNBA faces transgender policy questions as Cunningham incident draws uneven coverage
Indiana Fever player Sophie Cunningham's on-court injury and her stance on transgender athletes in women's sports have sparked debate, with broadcast networks giving the story mixed attention.
The WNBA is confronting a contentious debate over transgender participation in women's sports, a conversation that intensified after Indiana Fever player Sophie Cunningham was struck in the face during a game. The incident, which occurred Aug. 8, came just hours after ABC's "Good Morning America" focused on playoff races rather than the league's growing policy questions.
Cunningham, who has publicly stated that girls in sports should not have to compete against biological men, was hit while going up for a layup. Chicago Sky player DiJonai Carrington was ejected from that game and later attributed the ejection to "White privilege," according to reports. The broadcast networks largely avoided covering the incident as either a sportsmanship issue or a cultural flashpoint, with CBS being the notable exception.
On July 29, "CBS Evening News" reported on the suspension of Seattle Storm co-owner Celeste Keaton, who allegedly yelled at two girls supporting Cunningham's position. The report noted that Cunningham is the first active professional female athlete to speak out against transgender females in women's sports. In an ESPN profile, Cunningham said, "I said what I said. I think it's kind of common sense. And I think I'll always believe in that." She also addressed accusations of being anti-transgender, stating, "I have never once said I hated the trans community. Like I said, I think there's space for everyone."
CBS returned to the story on Aug. 10, two days after the on-court incident, reporting that two former NBA players, including Enes Kanter Freedom, said they would identify as women and declare for the WNBA draft. The report characterized the move as an attempt to prove a point, and noted that critics say the league was not ready for its explosion of popularity.
NPR briefly raised the issue on Aug. 15 during its morning news program, noting that WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert announced a task force of team executives would meet to discuss "transgender participation." The segment pointed out that the WNBA has never had a known transgender athlete, and that any eligibility change would need to be collectively bargained with the players' union. The league's statement denounced "bad-faith efforts to use these topics to demean and marginalize others."
Engelbert, speaking to the Associated Press on Aug. 20, complained that the league is "being the center of political football for people who have never watched the WNBA." She added, "There's always going to be haters out there, and we denounce it." The league has yet to announce a policy decision, leaving the question of eligibility unresolved as the season continues.
49
