Olympic gold medalist swimmer Nancy Hogshead has initiated a Change.org petition calling for the WNBA to formally restrict player eligibility to biological females. The petition, launched on August 14, has garnered over 11,000 signatures and aims to reach 100,000.
Hogshead stated her objective is for the WNBA to "clarify that its eligibility rules are for women only." She believes that participants must meet criteria for age and being female. "We have well over a million people who’ve engaged with our materials about the petition. We just gotta get them to sign on," Hogshead said, expressing confidence in reaching her signature goal due to broad public support.
The WNBA's current collective bargaining agreement, established in 2026, states that "only players who are women are eligible to play in the WNBA." However, the document does not provide a definition of "woman" or address sex assigned at birth or gender identity.
The debate has been amplified following announcements by former NBA players Enes Kanter Freedom and Royce White of their intent to enter the 2027 WNBA Draft while identifying as women. League sources have since indicated that neither player is eligible and suggested their announcements were publicity stunts. Hogshead characterized these declarations as exposing a contradiction within the WNBA's policies, calling it "the hypocrisy of the WNBA, and... gender ideology."
League officials have previously stated there are "no immediate eligibility matters" impacting the WNBA and have condemned "bad-faith efforts" to use the discussion to "demean or marginalize others." Commissioner Cathy Engelbert has also indicated ongoing discussions with the players’ union and other stakeholders regarding the subject.
Hogshead's petition emerges amid public rallies supporting Indiana Fever guard Sophie Cunningham, who has voiced opposition to transgender athletes competing in women's sports. Hogshead expressed appreciation for Cunningham's stance, stating, "If anything, the more people see of Sophie Cunningham, the more they like her."
Hogshead, a civil rights attorney and founder of Champion Women, won three gold medals and one silver medal at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics. Her organization advocates for women and girls in athletics.