// BBC WORLD NEWS — MONDO
The transgender controversy surrounding the WNBA
The WNBA is still in the midst of its 2026 season and yet it is next year's Draft for North America's top women's basketball league that is dominating the headlines.
Why? Because some former men's NBA players have declared they will enter for selection - citing the current eligibility guidelines, or lack of, for transgender women players.
"I'm officially declaring myself a WNBA prospect," said Enes Kanter Freedom, who played 11 seasons in the NBA.
It is the latest development in a story ignited by a comment made by Indiana Fever player Sophie Cunningham, who said she wanted to protect young girls "who shouldn't have to go against biological men" in sport.
Her words have instigated protests - albeit not grand in scale - on both sides of the argument, and once again catapulted the debate around transgender women in sport into the spotlight.
Last month, Cunningham, one of the league's most high-profile players, gave an interview to ESPN, external in which the conversation turned to the topic of "protecting" women's sports.
The Indiana Fever guard said she had received criticism from people who believed she "hated" transgender people, something she denied.
She said she wanted to "extend love" to everyone, but added: "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."
She later doubled down on her comments, saying it was "common sense", external to bar transgender athletes from competing in women's sports.
Her words quickly moved beyond basketball and into a wider political debate in the United States.