A certain player is once again framing trans women in sports as a divide between “biological men” and little girls, claiming that she wants to “protect women.” Her rhetoric turns trans people into a theoretical boogeyman – making it sound like any male basketball player can simply transition and join the league. Meanwhile, this is far from the reality of what’s actually happening and only aims to further divide all women.
For many trans athletes, sports are more so about social inclusion and acceptance rather than exclusion dominance. When thinking of them as actual people instead of a looming threat, it’s 15 year old Becky who wants to run, 8 year old Jazz who wanted to play soccer with her friends after school, 18 year old Ember who wanted to play softball, 16 year old AB who wants to compete without getting harassed by parents. Their dreams are harder to imagine considering that 27 states have outright banned trans girls and women in sports (including Indiana), and 26 have banned gender affirming care for minors.
The coverage about trans athletes is disproportionate to the actual procedures for trans people in college/professional sports. Before these bans, trans athletes in the NCAA have been asked to undergo a strict process of hormone level monitoring for up to a year. There is no scientific evidence for trans women having an advantage compared to their peers. And professionally, trans athletes make up a much smaller percentage. Out of the WNBA’s 30 year history, only two players were openly trans – Layshia Clarendon and AD Durr – and neither of them took HRT while playing.
The framing of “biological advantage” also falls short when you consider the players of the league. BG is 6’9 and leads the league in all-time blocks. Stewie has a 7'1 wingspan. Many players, included but not limited to A’ja, Angel, Azzi, and Lauren, have parents who played college or professional sports. Everyone is over 5’3.5, the average height for an American woman. These aren’t framed as “genetic advantages”, they’re simply reasons for their skill and success. Isn’t the whole point of sports to have an advantage over opponents?
10 years ago, the NCAA threatened to move the 2017 championship game for March Madness out of North Carolina because of their bathroom bill. Yesterday, the WNBA suspended Seattle Storm co-owner Celeste Keaton for combating transphobic behavior. It's clear that the opinions of trans people within sports has changed for the worst. This is only enabled further by the WNBA, which has realized that profiting on racism and homophobia is more important than safety, advocacy, and protection. The is far from the activist league of the 2010s and 2020.
If the WNBPA and the WNBA continue to be silent, then it’s up to the fans to use our voices. Don’t interact with or support anyone from the Fever – considering that most of them including Kelsey Mitchell, Aliyah Boston, Raven Johnson, Makayla Timpson, Bree Hall, etc liked the “I said what I said” post, it’s clear that they’re choosing to remain complacent with their teammate. We can still encourage players or coaches of any team to speak out against this hatred -- people who have already done so include Stefanie Dolson, Brianna Turner, Anneli Maley, Napheesa Collier and Arike Ogunbowale in 2021/2022 respectively, and Cheryl Reeve. That number needs to increase.
It will not stop at banning trans women at sports. This is an attempt to erase trans people from all aspects of public life, and will continue to attack any woman, cis or trans, who does not meet the norm.
