WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert and team executives will soon meet to discuss the issues on transgender participation.
Engelbert sent a memo to teams Friday acknowledging the heightened conversation on transgender participation in recent weeks, according to The Associated Press. She informed teams that the topic will be discussed in a previously scheduled meeting with team presidents and general managers next week.
“I know many of you have received questions in recent weeks regarding transgender athlete participation in women’s basketball, and I expect this topic will continue to receive significant attention,” Engelbert wrote. “I wanted to reach out to share how we are approaching these conversations at the league office and to thank those of you who have responded to questions from the media with thoughtfulness and professionalism.”
The topic has been at the center of WNBA discourse since late July, when Indiana Fever guard Sophie Cunningham said in an ESPN story: “I want to protect young girls in a locker room, or young girls in sport who shouldn’t have to go against biological men.”
Engelbert’s memo also mentioned that the gender eligibility rules are found in the CBA, and more conversations will take place in the “weeks and months ahead” with teams and the players’ union.
