It is quite ironic, isn’t it? Are they trying to erase history, or simply work themselves out of a job? Regardless, the WNBA seems determined to march itself toward irrelevance.
The Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) was first founded in 1996 to give women the opportunity to compete professionally, much like the NBA does for men. But in recent years, they’ve become known more as the Woke National Basketball Association, deciding ideology mattered more than the very women it was created to serve.
Over the last several years, the institutional rot of the American entertainment industry has been on full display in the wild world of sports. From Major League Baseball Pride Nights to alternative national anthems at National Football League games, fans have watched politics steadily replace competitive focus. Nowhere has the disconnect from reality been clearer than the insistence that men belong in women’s sports. That, after all, is the inevitable consequence of erasing the designation of biological sex.
The debate has played out in all levels of competition across the country, and professional sports have allowed men to steal nearly half a million dollars in prize money from women by competing in their category. Recently, the WNBA has been the headline of the issue, revealing just how deeply the ideology has corroded the “women’s” league.
Sophie Cunningham, WNBA Indiana Fever star and teammate of renowned athlete Caitlin Clark, has become increasingly outspoken in favor of keeping men out of women’s sports. She is not a political figure, as she identifies herself as “very much in the middle.” Still, she told ESPN:
I think that I am here to extend love. But 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.
The comments have sparked backlash, primarily from those leading the WNBA.
Two young girls received national attention after attending a Fever game courtside in XX-XY merchandise, to show support for Cunningham. The co-owner of the opposing team approached the girls and allegedly cursed at them saying, “I hope Jesus can forgive you for what sin you’ve done,” calling them “F***ing insane.” One of the girls had previously been forced to compete against a man in high school competition, according to Riley Gaines. The WNBA suspended the co-owner for five home games.
However, the league has yet to release a clear policy affirming that the league is only for women. The clarity is shockingly and desperately needed in most sports governing organization, including the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA).
Instead, several coaches have doubled down in favor of men competing in the WNBA, exposing how far the betrayal runs in the organization. When playing against Sophie’s team, Cheryl Reeve, Head Coach for the Minnesota Lynx, wore a shirt that read “trans kids belong,” which ESPN highlighted in support.
This is the culture that the WNBA, alongside support from others in the industry, such as ESPN, has cultivated. A culture where executives feel it appropriate to cuss at 16-year-old fans in the name of “inclusion” and “acceptance.”
Meanwhile, support for Cunningham grows. Her shoe line has sold out, and fans from across the country are rallying at the games. Everyday Americans continue to show, through Cunningham, they still believe women’s sports are for women only.
Two former NBA stars are trying to force the WNBA’s hand. They announced their eligibility for the WNBA draft, using the current policies as evidence. While many say it is simply a publicity stunt, it still exposes a very real policy problem. If a joke can break your eligibility policy, your eligibility policy probably needs fixing.
The WNBA has reached a crossroads. It can reclaim its original mission and unapologetically become a women’s league again, or it can continue pretending sex is meaningless and remain the woke league—which will only limit its fan base, lower its ratings, weakened competition, and result in a much smaller paycheck. They should protect women instead and reap the benefits that are staring them right in the face. Young women are eager for worthy role models. Here’s hoping they make the right choice. But I’m not holding my breath.
