Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has voiced concerns regarding the ongoing debate surrounding transgender athletes in the WNBA, particularly in the wake of comments made by Indiana Fever player Caitlin Clark.
Paxton attended the Fever's game against the Dallas Wings on Thursday evening and spoke with Fox News about the league's approach to the issue. "I have concerns... but I'm hopeful that things are getting better in that regard," Paxton stated, adding that he was "looking" into the situation to ensure fair treatment for all involved. He stopped short of indicating specific actions his office might take.
Sparks Fly Over Transgender Athlete Inclusion
The controversy intensified after Caitlin Clark, a prominent player, made statements about "protecting young girls" in women's sports. These remarks have fueled a broader discussion about transgender athletes' participation in professional women's sports.
Supporters of Clark's stance have reported facing backlash at recent games. In one instance, fans wearing T-shirts expressing support for her views were reportedly asked to cover them by arena security, an incident the WNBA later acknowledged "shouldn't have happened."
Paxton attended the game with his daughter, both wearing shirts that read "XX-XY," a symbol used by advocates for biological sex in sports. He expressed admiration for Clark's courage in speaking out, stating, "She's got tremendous courage. It's what we need in our country, more courage, standing up for what is right, and actually standing up for young women that want the opportunity to compete in sports."
He further commented on policies that allow men to compete in women's sports, suggesting it creates difficulties for biological women. "Obviously, we have these policies where men compete against women, which makes it very difficult for these women to compete in sports," Paxton said.
Legal Stance and Future Considerations
Texas law mandates that athletes in public schools and colleges compete based on their biological sex. While these state laws do not directly govern WNBA eligibility, Paxton highlighted his state's efforts to legislate in this area.
The debate has also seen former NBA players Enes Kanter Freedom and Royce White announce intentions to enter the 2027 WNBA Draft. They aim to challenge the league's policies on transgender participation. The WNBA has characterized their campaign as a "bad-faith" effort, noting that its collective bargaining agreement currently stipulates that only women are eligible to play.
Paxton referred to this development as highlighting the "crazy insanity of this whole transgender movement," suggesting that Kanter and White are using the rules to expose what he perceives as the WNBA's "ludicrousness."
When asked about potential actions if either former player were drafted and played in Dallas, Paxton indicated that Texas would "have to see" how the WNBA handles the situation. He reiterated Texas's stance against biological males competing in women's sports, deeming it "completely unfair."
This is not the first time Paxton has taken legal action related to gender in sports. He previously sued the NCAA in December 2024, alleging violations of the Texas Deceptive Trade Practices Act by marketing events as women's competitions while allowing biological males to participate. Although the NCAA updated its policy in February of the previous year to limit participation in women's sports to athletes assigned female at birth, Paxton argued the change was insufficient and called for gender screening.