The WNBA's anti-hate task force met virtually on Wednesday and said it has no immediate eligibility matters involving transgender players, while criticizing what it called "bad-faith efforts" to use the topic to demean or marginalize others.
The task force, which is examining transgender athlete participation, offered no new eligibility definition and scheduled further meetings. A league spokesperson said the group strongly denounces attempts to create a narrative about transgender women playing in the WNBA.
The league's collective bargaining agreement states that "only players who are women are eligible to play in the WNBA," but it does not include more specific language about gender identity or sex assigned at birth.
The task force's statement did not address how it would handle future cases, leaving the league's stance unchanged. Critics have accused the WNBA of avoiding a clear policy, but the task force said it is focused on fostering an inclusive environment rather than engaging in what it called a divisive debate.
The meeting came amid ongoing discussion among fans and commentators about transgender inclusion in women's sports. The task force's decision to continue meeting without setting eligibility rules suggests the league is not yet ready to define its position beyond the existing contract language.