The debate over transgender athletes participating in women's sports has intensified, with WNBA player Sophie Cunningham becoming one of the few prominent female athletes to publicly advocate for keeping women's sports exclusively for biological females. Her stance has highlighted the silence or carefully worded responses from many other high-profile athletes on the contentious issue.
Cunningham, supported by XX-XY Athletics founder Jennifer Sey, has emphasized the role of Title IX in protecting women's sports. Her vocal position contrasts with that of many influential female athletes who have either supported transgender inclusion or have not directly addressed the topic.
Athlete Stances on Transgender Participation
Olympic gymnast Simone Biles engaged in a public dispute in June 2025 with Riley Gaines, a commentator critical of transgender inclusion. Biles initially criticized Gaines' stance on a high school softball team with a male player, suggesting sports organizations should find ways for transgender athletes to compete. Following backlash, Biles apologized for personal attacks but reaffirmed her support for "inclusion," acknowledging the complexity of fairness in sports.
Las Vegas Aces star A'ja Wilson, a two-time WNBA MVP, has not publicly commented on transgender participation in women's sports. While Wilson has often spoken about equality, diversity, and inclusion, there is no known statement from her addressing eligibility rules for women's or girls' sports. Reports indicate she has not been directly asked about the issue by the media.
Tennis legend Serena Williams has not publicly stated a definitive position. However, remarks she made in 2013 on David Letterman, where she noted biological differences between men's and women's tennis and stated she would lose to Andy Murray, are sometimes cited in discussions about male athletic superiority. These comments were made in the context of her potential to compete against male players, not regarding eligibility policies for women's sports.
Olympic champion swimmer Katie Ledecky, a nine-time gold medalist, declined to weigh in when asked by The New York Times in June 2024 about a lawsuit stemming from Lia Thomas' participation in the 2022 NCAA Championships. Ledecky stated she preferred not to comment on political or cultural issues, focusing instead on her swimming career.
Tennis player Coco Gauff, who has supported LGBTQ communities, has not publicly addressed the specific issue of transgender participation in women's sports. Riley Gaines has publicly called on Gauff to state her position on whether women's sports should be exclusive to women, but has not yet received a response.
WNBA star Caitlin Clark, in a 2024 interview with TIME magazine, stated that "everybody should have the same rights" and be treated with respect. However, she did not directly address whether biological males should compete in women's sports.
Paige Bueckers, another WNBA star, has been outspoken on racial justice and LGBTQ support but has not publicly commented on transgender participation in women's or girls' sports. Similarly, WNBA champion Sabrina Ionescu has spoken about growing women's basketball and expanding opportunities for female athletes but has not taken a public stance on this specific issue.
American track star Sha'Carri Richardson, an Olympic gold medalist, has not publicly commented on transgender participation in women's sports. She has often spoken about inclusion and individuality, but no known statements address male athletes competing in women's events. The author notes a lack of comment on this issue from Richardson, despite her willingness to discuss other social topics.
Olympic gold medal hockey captain Hilary Knight has publicly supported transgender inclusion in sports. Her comments came amid discussions about policy changes affecting international hockey, where she emphasized maintaining welcoming environments for transgender athletes while respecting governing body decisions. The author expresses skepticism about this stance, suggesting high-level male athletes could dominate women's professional leagues.