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The WNBA already had an openly trans player long before the Enes Kanter debate
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- The WNBA already had an openly trans player long before the Enes Kanter debate
Photo by Meg Oliphant/Getty Images
The conversation around transgender athletes in professional basketball isn't new.
The current trans debate in basketball is focused entirely around biological men transitioning to play in the WNBA.
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Enes Kanter has become one of the most vocal figures pushing this issue into the spotlight. By publicly claiming he could dominate the league and attempting to declare for the WNBA draft, Kanter insists he's exposing potential policy loopholes.
The move has divided the basketball world, with some accusing him of pulling a publicity stunt, while supporters argue the rules must be tightened to protect biological women and preserve the integrity.
But this isn't the first time that the transgender topic has been brought up in the WNBA.
Layshia Clarendon is the first and only WNBA transgender player
Layshia Clarendon has a unique place in sports, in 2021 becoming the WNBA 's first openly transgender and non-binary player. Assigned female at birth, the veteran All-Star point guard spent years navigating professional basketball while quietly living outside the binary.
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Their journey gained national attention in early 2021 after undergoing top surgery mid-career and other so-called gender reassignment treatments, sharing the moment publicly on Instagram .
Rather than facing locker room friction or pushback, Clarendon was embraced by teammates, fans, and the WNBPA leadership, where they served as Vice President.
However, as an AFAB athlete playing in a women's league, Clarendon's transition didn't trigger physical advantages or policy debates around fair play. Instead, it set a quiet standard for identity support.
By playing over a decade in the league across teams like the Liberty, Lynx, and Sparks, Clarendon proved that an athlete could be completely authentic while maintaining their game at the highest level.
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It's certainly an interesting topic given all the drama we see today, but it does differ from the Enes Kanter situation, as Clarendon was born a biological woman.
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