French transgender basketball player Julie Tétart has concluded the 2025-26 season as a dominant force in France's second-division women's league, Ligue 2 Féminine de Basket, leading the league in both scoring and rebounding. Tétart, a 6'3" player for a club in Monaco, averaged 21 points and 20 rebounds per game, a performance that has raised questions about her potential to play in the WNBA.
Despite her statistical achievements, Tétart was not awarded league MVP honors, leading to allegations of collusion among league captains and coaches who voted for the award. French activist group TRANSpire expressed frustration, stating that voters "deliberately decided not to grant them [Tétart and teammate Aurore Pautou] any awards" despite their top-tier athletic performances.
Tétart, who publicly came out as transgender in October 2021, told OutKick that while a WNBA call would be a "childhood dream," she considers it unlikely due to her age (34) and the current political climate in the United States. "The league, yes. The country, no," Tétart stated, hinting at potential issues with U.S. policies under a Donald Trump presidency. However, she added that if a WNBA team were to contact her, she "won't say no."
The discussion surrounding Tétart's performance intersects with ongoing debates about transgender athletes in women's sports. WNBA player Sophie Cunningham has been vocal in her stance on protecting women's sports, emphasizing the importance of maintaining separate categories for biological males and females. When asked about Cunningham's position, Tétart responded simply with "Aucun," which translates to "None."
Former French WNBA player Audrey Sauret voiced concerns in April, suggesting that leagues like Ligue 2 are becoming a "testing ground" for new ideas, potentially creating unfair competition for biological female athletes. Sauret argued that hormonal changes do not erase inherent biological differences between men and women and warned that such situations could become more common if not addressed.
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During a March game, Tétart set a new league record with 21 points and 30 rebounds. Another transgender player, Aurore Pautou, also had a notable season, averaging 14.4 points and 7.7 rebounds per game, though she did not play in the record-setting game.
The WNBA has positioned itself as an "inclusive" league, and Tétart's performance and stated willingness to consider a WNBA offer further fuel the conversation about the league's policies on transgender athletes.