The Women's National Basketball Association faced intense criticism on Sunday after posting a social media birthday greeting for Indiana Fever guard Sophie Cunningham following her controversial comments on player eligibility.
Cunningham turned 30 years old on Sunday as the Fever earned a 95-91 overtime win against the Atlanta Dream. The guard spent the final weeks of her 29th year at the center of a league-wide debate after stating that she wants to protect young girls from biological men in sports.
Despite ongoing public fallout surrounding Cunningham's comments, the official WNBA account on X published a graphic celebrating her milestone. The post asked fans to join the league in wishing a happy birthday to the 2025 Commissioner's Cup champion.
The league's message immediately provoked backlash from fans on both sides of the issue. Several users accused WNBA officials of exploiting Cunningham's profile for online engagement while failing to shield her from hostility.
One social media user wrote that the league would not protect Cunningham against hate but would capitalize on her birthday, calling the organisation disgusting. Another user asked whether the league only liked her when she could generate clicks, while a third stated that the WNBA had attacked her and set her up for failure before posting the greeting. A fourth commenter claimed the post demonstrated that the league was milking the controversy for attention.
Other commenters criticized the WNBA for celebrating Cunningham due to their opposition to her position. One user bluntly called Cunningham a bigot, while another declared they were done with the league, calling it a shameful organization.
Former NBA Players Declare for WNBA Draft
The debate surrounding player eligibility escalated after two former NBA players announced intentions to enter the WNBA draft in apparent protest. Former center Enes Kanter Freedom, who played 11 seasons in the NBA and stands 6 feet 10 inches tall, announced plans to declare for the WNBA draft. Freedom also reportedly sent a provocative letter to the WNBA commissioner regarding the matter.
Following Freedom's announcement, 35-year-old former Sacramento Kings player Royce White also declared for the WNBA draft. White, who appeared in three games for Sacramento during his NBA career, told Fox News Digital that he is now queer and intends to join Fever player Caitlin Clark and Cunningham on the court next season. White later posted a photograph of himself wearing a wig on social media, telling critics he was celebrating his feminine era.
WNBA Rules Out Immediate Eligibility Changes
As controversy mounted across professional basketball, WNBA general managers and team presidents convened on Wednesday as part of an anti-hate task force to evaluate athlete eligibility guidelines. League leadership determined following the meeting that no immediate eligibility issues affect the WNBA at this time, signaling that rule adjustments will not be made.
In a statement provided to The New York Post, a league spokesman confirmed that the task force covered a broad range of topics, including online abuse targeted at players. The spokesman stated that the league will continue to engage stakeholders in the coming weeks and months, approaching conversations thoughtfully and in alignment with league values, while strongly denouncing bad-faith efforts to demean or marginalize others.
Under the current WNBA Collective Bargaining Agreement, rules state that only players who are women are eligible to play in the league. The agreement does not contain additional specific language regarding gender identity or sex assigned at birth.
Several figures within the league have voiced support for inclusion in women's sports, including Seattle Storm center Stefanie Dolson and Minnesota Lynx head coach Cheryl Reeve. Speaking on August 1, Reeve emphasized that protecting children in sports is a human rights issue, stating that every kid has a right to sports.
