WNBA media outlets have been criticized for not questioning players or Commissioner Cathy Engelbert about player Sophie Cunningham's public comments regarding transgender athletes participating in women's sports during the recent All-Star Weekend in Chicago. Cunningham had stated that biological males should not compete in girls' and women's sports, a stance she reiterated before the event.
Despite the controversy and its prominence in public discourse, including responses from other players and reaching the White House, reporters with credentials to the All-Star Weekend events reportedly did not ask any of the 22 participating All-Stars or Engelbert for their opinions on the matter. This oversight has led to accusations that the WNBA's media coverage is not treating the league with the same rigor as other professional sports.
Cunningham's comments, made in an ESPN profile, emphasized her desire to protect young girls in sports. "I want to protect young girls in a locker room, or young girls in sport who shouldn’t have to go against biological men," she stated. She later added, "I said what I said. I think it’s kinda common sense."
Her remarks drew a public defense from Las Vegas Aces forward Brianna Turner, who supported transgender participation in women's sports. The Associated Press noted the debate as a significant cultural issue surrounding the weekend. However, according to reports, no WNBA All-Star or Engelbert addressed Cunningham's statements during public press conferences or interviews made available to credentialed media.
OutKick, which had applied for credentials to cover the event and intended to ask players about Cunningham's comments, was denied access. The publication reported that its credential request was submitted after the deadline, though the application portal had remained open. This denial meant OutKick reporters could not directly question the players or commissioner.
Critics argue that this lack of questioning represents a failure in journalistic duty, particularly given the opportunity for WNBA players and their commissioner to address a prominent debate affecting women's sports. The absence of questions on this topic during Engelbert's press conference, where she addressed themes of inclusion and respect, was highlighted as a missed opportunity. Instead, questions focused on league operations, officiating, and other administrative matters.
This pattern of avoiding potentially sensitive topics has been observed previously, with instances cited involving Caitlin Clark and Brittney Griner, where media outlets were accused of not pressing for answers on controversial issues affecting players. The criticism suggests a disconnect between the league's desire for mainstream attention and the willingness of some media to engage in rigorous reporting on contentious subjects within the sport.