The WNBA is currently dealing with a transgender issue that refuses to end. It all started with Sophie Cunningham saying she doesn't want biological males competing against girls in women's sports. Since then, the issue has taken a life of its own and continues to consume the WNBA more than a month after Cunningham's controversial interview was published on ESPN.
According to Outkick founder Clay Travis, the only reason the topic is still alive is that the WNBA hasn't taken a stand on it because it is hiding something. Furthermore, Travis thinks the WNBA will never adopt the gender testing recently implemented by top sports organizations because it would open Pandora's Box.
"They can't define what a woman is," said Travis. " Now, I think there are a couple of reasons. One, because they have a large trans fan base in their mind, they don't want to admit that there is a difference, biologically. Two, I think that there are some people who would not pass the WTA, the NCAA, and the IOC standard for women."
Last March, the International Olympic Committee announced that, starting with the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, it will require a one-time gender test to determine eligibility for women's events. Likewise, the Women's Tennis Association announced that, beginning last month, it will require players to undergo similar testing to compete in its sanctioned tournaments.
The SRY gene screening that will be carried out by both the IOC and WTA will be conducted via a cheek swab, saliva, or blood sample, which are considered non-intrusive compared to other methods. However, Travis says the WNBA will not adopt gender testing because it knows some of its players won't pass the screening.
"Remember, we're not talking about some super detailed thing. They'll cheek swab you once in your mouth, then you're officially good to go, for the WTA, for instance. They can't do that in the WNBA. Why? I think that's a big question that they have an answer to," he added.
It's unclear whom Travis is referring to when he says some players won't pass the screening. But perhaps one of the players he is talking about is Connecticut Sun center Brittney Griner , who has recently been the subject of online debate because of her appearance, which her critics say doesn't resemble that of a natural woman.
At 6'9″ with a shoe size of 17 and a deep voice, Griner has always been the subject of discussion. In the video, it's also clear that her chest doesn't look like a regular woman's.
Griner herself also admitted that when she was imprisoned in Russia, prison guards tried to lock her up in a men's prison cell before putting her behind bars with women. She also revealed that she has been forced to get out of women's toilets in China because locals didn't think she was a natural woman.
Records, however, say Griner was born a woman and is cisgender, not transgender, which Grok confirms . She declared herself a lesbian in 2013, and there is no evidence to prove she is not a natural woman. If that is indeed true, then Brittney should have no problem with gender testing.
This story was originally published by Basketball Network on Aug 17, 2026, where it first appeared in the Latest News section. Add Basketball Network as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
