Caitlyn Jenner has entered the growing debate over transgender athletes in the WNBA. The 76-year-old says the WNBA’s bylaw controversy has a simple fix based on biological chromosomes. The issue gained attention after former NBA players Enes Kanter Freedom and Royce White said they identify as women. Both have been declared for next year’s WNBA draft.
Caitlyn Jenner calls for a chromosome-based WNBA eligibility standard
Jenner addressed the issue during an interview with Trace Gallagher on Fox News @ Night and took aim at WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert for continuing discussions without settling on a firm rule, reports Fox News.
Referring to Freedom and White, she said, “They’re showing the hypocrisy of what’s going on out there in the WNBA. The WNBA had its meetings on this issue, and Cathy, the head, says, ‘We talked about the trans issue, but we just haven’t come up with a conclusion at this point. We will continue the conversation.’ Cathy, XX, you’re in. XY, you’re out. It’s that simple.”
“And both these guys, I think, are doing a good job just to show the WNBA the hypocrisy that’s going on here. We have to protect women’s sports… I want to protect women’s sports. Title IX was one of the greatest legislations for women’s equality – that happened to be in sports,” she added. Jenner, who won the 1976 Olympic decathlon gold medal as Bruce Jenner, publicly came out as transgender in 2015. She has since been an outspoken advocate for protecting women’s sports.
Under the WNBA’s Collective Bargaining Agreement, “only players who are women are eligible to play.” However, the 409-page document does not define “woman” or lay out specific rules regarding transgender players.
The debate grew after Sophie Cunningham publicly voiced support for protecting women’s sports. Speaking to ESPN in late July, Cunningham said women athletes should not be expected to compete against biological men. She told the outlet, “I got a lot of negative feedback about me hating trans. And I’m like, ‘I never once said that.”
She said she believes her role is to “extend love,” while also embracing honesty and truth. She added that she wants to protect young girls in locker rooms and in sports from having to compete against biological men.
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