There Are No Trans Women in the WNBA, so Right-Wingers Are Making Some Up

Key Points:

• Right-wing commentator Sydney Watson sparked controversy by insinuating that WNBA star Brittney Griner might be a man, fueling baseless conspiracy theories amid ongoing anti-transgender sentiment in sports.
• The WNBA has no transgender women players and commissioner Cathy Engelbert has dismissed transphobic protests as the work of “haters,” yet some former NBA players and MAGA influencers continue to spread misinformation and demand invasive verification methods.
• Players like Sophie Cunningham have become prominent voices opposing transgender inclusion in women’s sports, framing their stance as protecting cisgender girls, but their rhetoric has also made them targets of transphobic harassment.
• Online conspiracy groups and social media users have extended accusations of being transgender to numerous WNBA athletes, demonstrating how anti-trans hysteria is also fueling harassment against cisgender women who do not conform to traditional feminine stereotypes.
• The escalating transphobia in sports discourse has even led to calls for the dissolution of the WNBA, reflecting a broader cultural battle that often disregards the interests and dignity of both transgender and cisgender female athletes.