French transgender basketball player Julie Tetard has revealed her ambition to play in the WNBA after completing a dominant season with Monaco. Tetard stated she would accept an offer from a team in the top American women's basketball league if invited.
The 34-year-old center stands 1.90 meters tall and finished an outstanding 2025-26 campaign in Ligue 2, the second tier of French women's basketball. Playing for Monaco, Tetard dominated the league by leading in both scoring and rebounding, averaging 21 points and 20 rebounds per game.
In March, Tetard delivered one of the top performances of the year when she logged 21 points and 30 rebounds in a single game, setting a league record.
Her performances created discussion across French media and among supporters when she was not named the Ligue 2 Most Valuable Player. Tetard was nevertheless honored with three major awards, earning Player of the Year, Defensive Player of the Year, and Top French Player in the division.
Ligue 2 performance and WNBA aspirations
Tetard publicly announced that she is transgender in October 2021. She described competing in the WNBA as a childhood dream, while acknowledging the severe challenges involved in achieving it.
Speaking to OutKick, Tetard said she would not say no if called by a WNBA team, but noted the need for realism regarding her age and the high caliber of competing players. When asked why a transfer appeared unreachable, she stated that the league itself was achievable but the country was not, pointing to U.S. political developments under President Donald Trump as an obstacle. She confirmed she would accept any contract offered to her.
Debate surrounding transgender participation in women's sports
Tetard's interest in the WNBA comes as discussions intensify over transgender athletes competing in women's professional leagues. Former French international player Audrey Sauret spoke out against trans participation earlier this year, arguing it creates unfair competition for younger female athletes.
Sauret stated that Ligue 2 serves as a testing ground for new ideas, but warned that inclusion in professional sports creates an uneven playing field. She argued that biological differences remain despite hormone treatments and said male and female physical structures differ, which could discourage women from pursuing athletics.
Reactions and player stances within the WNBA
The issue has also sparked debate in the United States following comments from Indiana Fever guard Sophie Cunningham. Cunningham publicly stated that female athletes must be protected from competing against biological men in locker rooms and sports, emphasizing that her stance was about fairness rather than hostility toward transgender individuals.
Cunningham's comments drew strong reactions from spectators, with fans expressing both approval and disapproval during games. On Sunday, Minnesota Lynx coach Cheryl Reeve showed support for transgender people by wearing a shirt on the bench featuring the slogan Trans Kids Belong.
When asked directly to address the statements made by Cunningham, Tetard declined to elaborate, offering no comment on the matter.
