The WNBA is currently facing questions regarding its eligibility criteria for biological males, a process the league states will require "weeks and months" of deliberation. This comes after former NBA players Enes Kanter Freedom and Royce White announced their intention to enter the 2027 WNBA draft, challenging the league's undefined eligibility rules.
Amidst this ongoing debate, a June 2021 post from the WNBA's official X (formerly Twitter) account, also shared on Facebook, has resurfaced. The post celebrated Andraya Yearwood and Terry Miller, two transgender women who competed in girls' high school track in Connecticut and were involved in a legal dispute after surpassing female athletes in championship events.
"Our first #WCW of #WNBAPride goes out to Andraya Yearwood and Terry Miller," the WNBA wrote in the 2021 post. "We see you. We support you and all of the other trans athletes just trying to compete in the sports they love."
At the time of the WNBA's post, Yearwood and Miller had gained national attention for their victories in girls' track competitions. According to a federal district court ruling, Yearwood's participation in Connecticut Interscholastic Athletic Conference events led to female athletes like Chelsea Mitchell being displaced from qualifying. Similarly, court records indicate that Miller's victories in 2018 and 2019 races would have resulted in Mitchell finishing second in the 100 meters without their participation, and Soule would have advanced to the next stage of competition in other races.
Four female athletes—Selina Soule, Chelsea Mitchell, Alanna Smith, and Ashley Nicoletti—have detailed their experiences of losing championships, advancement opportunities, and recognition due to competing against transgender athletes. Mitchell, described as one of Connecticut's top female sprinters, stated that competing against a transgender athlete left her feeling "completely defeated before I even run the race." Soule expressed concern that "some girls will be missing out on great opportunities to succeed, and that women could be completely eradicated from their own sports."
The WNBA's 2021 post came after Athlete Ally, an organization that had honored Yearwood and Miller in 2019, was credited. The NBA and WNBA were listed among the supporters of Athlete Ally's 2019 awards. Two years later, the WNBA officially partnered with Athlete Ally for Pride Month, with the league's Social Justice Council prioritizing LGBTQ advocacy, including transgender rights, and Athlete Ally conducting educational sessions for WNBA teams on "trans inclusivity."
While the league is now undertaking discussions to define eligibility, the collective bargaining agreement states that "Only players who are women are eligible to play in the WNBA." However, the document reportedly does not define "woman," leading to the current ambiguity.
A source familiar with a recent WNBA meeting indicated that the discussion focused significantly on "hate and vitriol being directed at WNBA players online" rather than solely on the eligibility criteria. This has drawn criticism, with some arguing that questioning the league's policy is not equivalent to hatred and that the league should have addressed the concerns of female athletes who felt their opportunities were diminished.