WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert blames the wrong people for ‘sowing divisiveness’ in transgender debate

WNBA star Sophie Cunningham demands a 'bold' commissioner for the league as fans rally to support her stance on protecting women's sports. 'The Faulkner Focus' details the growing controversy, including a Seattle columnist who resigned over censorship.

WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert denounced those she claims are using the league to "sow divisiveness" over the topic of transgender athletes.

Engelbert commented on the matter in Dallas on Thursday, a week after the league issued a statement criticizing concerns about transgender participation in the WNBA.

"People are trying to use the league to sow divisiveness," Engelbert said Thursday while standing next to Wings CEO and managing partner Greg Bibb.

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"We're being the center of political football for people who have never watched the WNBA, never have written about the WNBA or reported on the WNBA," Engelbert added.

WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert speaks before the WNBA basketball draft in New York on April 13, 2026. (Pamela Smith/AP)

For background, various WNBA players and media members condemned Fever star Sophie Cunningham for stating in an ESPN profile last month that efforts should be made to protect little girls from competing against biological males.

The backlash within the WNBA to Cunningham's remarks prompted former NBA players Enes Kanter Freedom and Royce White to ask how women in the league would feel about having to compete against men. To find out, Freedom and White declared themselves eligible for the WNBA draft, saying they identify as women.

The league's collective bargaining agreement states that "only players who are women are eligible to play in the WNBA."