WNBA star would 'welcome a trans athlete on my team' as debate intensifies
WNBA star would 'welcome a trans athlete on my team' as debate intensifies
Joseph McBrideFri, August 7, 2026 at 2:41 PM UTC
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Gabby Williams would be open to transgender WNBA athletes -Credit:2026 NBAE
The debate surrounding transgender athletes in the WNBA has taken another turn after Golden State Valkyries forward Gabby Williams said she'd welcome more inclusion in the league.
Indiana Fever star Sophie Cunningham sparked a transgender debate in sports when admitting that she didn't agree with biological men competing in women's sports. Cunningham made it clear that she promotes inclusion in life, but draws a line when it comes to professional competition.
Since sparking the debate, Cunningham has attempted to distance herself from the conversation, with rallies taking place outside WNBA arenas and the discourse extending beyond what she expected. However, Williams has since come out and said she'd welcome a trans athlete on her team or an opposition roster.
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Cunningham's comments have divided the WNBA community, leading to rallies for and against trans athletes across the nation. Minnesota Lynx head coach Cheryl Reeve wore a 'Trans Kids Belong' shirt when facing Cunningham and the Fever, opposing her views directly.
The discussion has continued throughout sports media with varying opinions, but now Williams has admitted that she'd have no concerns over trans athletes playing in the WNBA. "I think it’s trans, trans rights, right now, is our new battle," Williams told the Local W.
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"We see trans people’s rights being stripped away from them; there’s a lot of discourse around trans athletes and what they can compete in. I would welcome a trans athlete on my team or against my team, anytime.
"I don’t think it’s a problem in the world. It’s just another way to kind of trans people. We’ve seen players like Layshia Clarendon, who stepped into that forefront, and have been brave enough, and courageous enough, to step up. So I guess that’s the next battle we have to fight as athletes."
Clarendon was the WNBA’s first trans athlete and retired in 2024. They spoke openly about their gender identity to The Player’s Tribune in a 2015 article, where they said they identify as "Black, gay, female, non-cisgender and Christian."
Sports are moving in the direction of blocking transgender athletes, with the WTA recently implementing gender testing to ensure that only biological women compete in tennis. The International Olympic Committee will enforce the same rules from the 2028 Olympics.
Sophie Cunningham has received both support and backlash for her stance on trans athletes -Credit:Getty
Cunningham set the record straight after facing backlash, insisting that she supports all identities so long as they don't interfere with women's sports. "I got a lot of negative feedback about me hating trans," she said earlier this year.
"And I’m like, ‘I never once said that.' 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."
Following repeated backlash and overwhelming attention, Cunningham has now opted to step back to focus on basketball. "I'm going to let people just do the speaking for themselves, but for me, I want to get back to basketball," Cunningham said.
"It's always been about basketball. That interview happened in [March]. I just want to make sure that the focus stays where it should because people are playing at such a high level."
Source: “AOL Breaking”
