The Women's National Basketball Association drew criticism from fans on Sunday after posting a 30th birthday message for Indiana Fever guard Sophie Cunningham on social media.
Cunningham turned 30 as the Fever defeated the Atlanta Dream 95-91 in an overtime thriller on Sunday. The birthday greeting came after several weeks of public debate sparked by Cunningham's comments on transgender athletes in the WNBA.
The league's official account on X posted: "Join us in wishing a Happy Birthday to 2025 Commissioner’s Cup Champion, Sophie Cunningham." Cunningham, who completed her 29th year amid public discussion surrounding league policy, had previously stated that she wants to "protect young girls" from "biological men."
The birthday message drew backlash from fans on social media, with multiple users accusing the league of capitalizing on the controversy for online engagement. One fan responded to the post writing, "You won't protect her against hate, but you'll capitalize on her birthday. @WNBA is disgusting." Another user asked, "Oh now you like her when she can get you clicks?"
A third comment read, "The balls of the @WNBA for wishing her a happy birthday when they have attacked her and set her up for failure," while a fourth stated, "This post just lets you know that the WNBA is just milking this controversy for attention." Other social media users objected to the league sending well wishes, with one writing, "Not a chance. She’s a bigot," and another adding, "Yeah I’m done with the WNBA. Shameful organization."
Protests From Former NBA Players
Cunningham's stance has drawn both criticism and support across the sport. Former NBA player Enes Kanter Freedom announced plans earlier this month to declare for the WNBA Draft in an apparent protest against current transgender athlete involvement. Freedom, who played 11 seasons in the NBA and stands 6ft 10in, allegedly sent a provocative letter to WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert before announcing his intention to enter the 2027 draft.
Following Freedom's announcement, former NBA player Royce White also declared for the WNBA Draft. White, 35, who played three games in the NBA for the Sacramento Kings, told Fox News Digital that he is now transgender and wants to join players such as Caitlin Clark and Cunningham on the court next season. White later posted a photograph of himself wearing a wig on social media, celebrating his "feminine era."
WNBA Leadership Meeting and Eligibility Policy
WNBA general managers and presidents met on Wednesday as part of an anti-hate task force to discuss player eligibility amid the ongoing debate. WNBA chiefs, including Commissioner Cathy Engelbert, evaluated the rules and determined that no changes would be made to existing criteria.
A league spokesman confirmed in a statement to The New York Post that the meeting addressed "ongoing discussions on transgender athletes and the continued hate and vitriol directed at players online." The league added, "We will continue to engage all league stakeholders in the coming weeks and months. We will approach these important conversations thoughtfully and in alignment with the values of our league."
The spokesperson stated following the meeting that there were "no immediate eligibility matters affecting" the WNBA at this time, adding that the league strongly denounces "bad-faith efforts to use these topics to demean or marginalize others." Under the current WNBA collective bargaining agreement, rules specify that "only players who are women are eligible to play in the WNBA," without including more specific language regarding gender identity or sex assigned at birth.
Several WNBA figures have voiced support for transgender athletes, including Seattle Storm center Stefanie Dolson and Minnesota Lynx head coach Cheryl Reeve. Speaking on August 1, Reeve stated, "We need to protect trans kids. To me, it's a human rights issue. Every kid has a right to sports."
