Golden State Valkyries head coach Natalie Nakase became the latest WNBA coach to address the inclusion of transgender athletes in women's sports, stating that sports should be about belonging and allowing everyone to be their authentic self. Her comments came ahead of the Valkyries' victory over the Toronto Tempo on Sunday.

Nakase, who is of Japanese-American heritage, drew a parallel between her own experiences with criticism based on her height and ethnicity and the need for sports spaces to be inclusive. "I’m all about women, little girls deserving to play, and that includes trans women," Nakase stated. "So I’m all about inclusivity."

Nakase joins a growing number of WNBA coaches who have recently commented on the issue, which has garnered significant attention following a profile on Phoenix Mercury player Sophie Cunningham. Indiana Fever head coach Stephanie White, Minnesota Lynx coach Cheryl Reeve, and Portland Fire coach Alex Sarama have also shared their perspectives.

Stephanie White, who coaches WNBA stars Caitlin Clark and Sophie Cunningham, said during a pre-game press conference on Friday that she doesn't believe exclusion is the answer, though she noted she may not be fully educated on the scientific aspects of the debate. "I do think that when we think about various levels of sport, various governing bodies of sport, and things that go into that, like I said, I'm not educated enough at the different levels," White said.

Alex Sarama, when asked about biological males competing in women's sports, stated his focus is on basketball and expressed general support for all communities. "I'm completely supportive of people from all communities, people from all walks of life, so that's my stance, completely, I'm support of everyone in the Portland community," Sarama said.

Cheryl Reeve addressed the topic on Saturday, defending the right to peaceful assembly for demonstrators while also pushing back against narratives that transgender women pose a threat. "It is not the case that we have 'biological men' in girls' locker rooms," Reeve stated. "The way it's being phrased, the innuendo there that transgender women are predators of some kind in the locker room. There's a lot of narrative that is problematic that we need to address."

The national discussion intensified after Cunningham's stance was published in an ESPN article last month. Subsequent rallies supporting Cunningham's position and counter-protests have occurred outside WNBA games, including a notable demonstration in Minneapolis on Sunday that reportedly saw more confrontational exchanges than previous events.