The Women's National Basketball Players Association, the union that represents players in the WNBA, has released a statement lamenting that the league has become “political pawns” in the gender ideology debate.
The only problem is that their statement is entirely political and cheers for the destruction of women’s sports by celebrating mental illness.
The WNBA player's union the WNBPA has released a statement:
— Jackson Thompson (@JackThompsonFOX) August 7, 2026
"Hate, abuse, and demonization of any person, including transgender people, only fuel fear, division, and harm. We will continue to have hard conversations. But we will not be used as political pawns." pic.twitter.com/QuCZrupihs
“We embrace the values of justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion,” the WNBPA’s statement read. “Those are the values that unite this Union and allow it to protect women’s sports while creating transformational change.”
"Hate, abuse, and demonization of any person, including transgender people, only fuel fear, division, and harm,” the group continued. “We will continue to have hard conversations. But we will not be used as political pawns."
The group seemingly defines “hate, abuse, and demonization,” as any act that doesn’t affirm someone’s distorted reality regarding their own gender, as the WNBPA has released no statement regarding the vitriolic response the media and Left have given to Sophie Cunningham, a member of the WNBPA, over her views.
Huge swaths of the group have likewise endorsed using the league as a political pawn to advance a twisted, progressive gender ideology. Numerous players and coaches have made statements or pulled publicity stunts aimed at taking Cunningham down for expressing a commonly-understood view on gender. The media and the league haven’t cracked down on it, only encouraged it, and the WNBPA has not requested that they do so.
WNBA star Gabby Williams supports trans women playing in the league:
— BrickCenter (@BrickCenter_) August 6, 2026
“I would welcome a trans athlete on my team or against my team.” pic.twitter.com/5DKMjXC040
WNBA coach says men should be able to play in the WNBA. Finally! Where is my franchise, @wnba? My team will be 100% trans. The Travis owned Nashville Balls will be the most inclusive women’s/men’s team in WNBA history. Stop discriminating against us! pic.twitter.com/TXTDkjmSpO
— Clay Travis (@ClayTravis) August 3, 2026
Minnesota Lynx head coach Cheryl Reeve wearing a “Trans Kids Belong” shirt against the Fever today pic.twitter.com/wbQuMMMAJ3
— OutKick (@Outkick) August 2, 2026
🗣️🗣️🗣️@AlaskaAir | Arrivals pic.twitter.com/IruaBJsY4J
— Seattle Storm (@seattlestorm) July 29, 2026
Sophie Cunningham got ELBOWED in the face...
— BrickCenter (@BrickCenter_) August 2, 2026
Refs call a foul on Sophie Cunningham 🤔 pic.twitter.com/IiDJGMT0UO
Despite their insistence that they don’t wish to be used as political pawns, Cunningham’s actions have brought the league into a spotlight that rivals that of when Caitlin Clark first entered the WNBA. The record levels of viewership quickly faded after players and officials openly targeted Clark.
The moves by women’s basketball to denigrate one of their sport’s biggest stars is likely to accelerate their decline.
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