Transgender Basketball Player Julie Tétart Stirs WNBA Debate

The escalating WNBA controversy surrounding transgender athlete participation has taken a new turn, now involving French player Julie Tétart, Indiana Fever's Sophie Cunningham, and even a past comment from Donald Trump about LeBron James.

The debate reignited last month when Indiana Fever's Sophie Cunningham called for "protecting girls" in locker rooms, a stance that earned praise from the White House. Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt stated that this is an issue "the president takes very seriously" and criticized those who opposed the player's remarks.

Speaking to ESPN, Cunningham, who has been dubbed "MAGA Barbie" online, emphasized the need to "protect women's sports" and asserted her belief that individuals born male should not be allowed to compete in the league. "I want to protect girls in a locker room, or young women in sports who shouldn't have to compete against biological men," she stated.

Until recently, the WNBA had largely avoided this debate, primarily due to a lack of openly transgender athletes seeking to compete in the league. While the WNBA has never officially commented on allowing trans athletes, many players have expressed support for the idea. Cunningham's statements, however, shifted the landscape, sparking both support and opposition at games and prompting figures like Minnesota Lynx coach Cheryl Reeve and Golden State Valkyries coach Natalie Nakase to publicly challenge her position.

The controversy intensified this week when OutKick, a sports media outlet owned by Fox News, drew French player Julie Tétart into the discussion. Tétart, a 34-year-old transgender woman who plays for Monaco in France's second division, Ligue 2, responded to an OutKick message, admitting she would accept a WNBA invitation but added, "We have to be realistic: I'm old and there are much better players than me!"

OutKick then published an article criticizing the WNBA, labeling it "inclusive," for not signing the player after her dominant season in France. The outlet's founder, Clay Travis, even called the league "transphobic" on social media platform X, turning Tétart into a target for transphobic attacks.

This situation has placed the WNBA in a delicate position. If the league does not pursue Tétart, critics could accuse it of offering only performative support for transgender athletes. If, on the other hand, it signs her, those same critics might use it as proof that the WNBA is willing to compromise women's sports for political reasons.

The controversy surrounding transgender athletes in the U.S. intensified following the return of WNBA star Brittney Griner, who was detained for 10 months in Russia. After her release in December 2022, conservative media outlets used her support for transgender athletes and the Black Lives Matter movement to portray her as un-American, paving the way for Julie Tétart to become the new target.

The discussion was further fueled by a viral 2022 comment from Donald Trump. At a Turning Point USA event, the former president joked that he would be the best women's basketball coach ever, as he would simply ask LeBron James if he had "any desire to be a woman."