Do you ever notice ... how the WNBA has a courage problem?
asserted
WNBA → notice → problem
The WNBA doesn't need another statement.
asserted
WNBA → need → statement
It needs a definition.
asserted
It → need → definition
The league says outside forces are trying to hijack women's basketball.
asserted
forces → say → basketball
They won’t name who or what that is.
asserted
that → name → who
Clearly define who is eligible to play in the Women’s National Basketball Association.
Funny how quickly a hypothetical becomes real when somebody finally has to write the rule.
Last week, I wrote that the WNBA had backed itself into a corner.
asserted
WNBA → define → corner
Turns out somebody at league headquarters finally noticed the walls.
asserted
somebody → turn → walls
WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert has now told teams that the league is discussing transgender-player eligibility and expects those conversations to continue.
asserted
conversations → tell → eligibility
Because the WNBA doesn't need another statement.
asserted
WNBA → need → statement
It needs a definition.
asserted
It → need → definition
The league's collective bargaining agreement says:
"Only players who are women are eligible to play in the WNBA."
Seems pretty straightforward.
asserted
who → say → WNBA
Except it doesn't define what a woman is.
asserted
woman → define → ?
Former NBA players Enes Kanter Freedom and Royce White say they want to enter the WNBA Draft.
asserted
they → say → Draft
They're making a point.
asserted
They → make → point
French transgender basketball player Julie Tétart, who is biologically male, is already playing professional women's basketball overseas.
asserted
who → play → basketball
Suddenly the question isn't something being shouted across cable-news panels.
asserted
question → shout → panels
The WNBA has a courage problem and it’s not Sophie Cunningham
And the answer can't be: We'll get back to you.
asserted
We → have → you
So what’s the standard?
asserted
standard → ’ → ?
Because you can't have a professional women's league whose rule says only women may play
while refusing to define who qualifies.
uncertain
who → have → league
And while league officials figure this out, we're getting a pretty good demonstration of why this
subject has become so difficult for the WNBA to address honestly.
asserted
WNBA → figure → demonstration
Just look at what's happening in Indiana.
asserted
what → look → Indiana
DiJonai Carrington came up behind Sophie Cunningham on a fast break and clobbered her in the
head, sending her crashing to the floor and bloodying her mouth.
asserted
Carrington → come → mouth
Carrington was assessed a Flagrant 2 and ejected.
asserted
Carrington → assess → Flagrant
Afterward, Fever coach Stephanie White defended Carrington's competitiveness and said she
didn't believe Carrington was trying to hurt Cunningham.
asserted
Carrington → defend → Cunningham
As White spoke, Makayla Timpson looked down.
asserted
Timpson → speak → ?
Caitlin Clark buried her head in her hands.
Interesting reaction.
White has since said she hadn't seen the foul when she made those comments.
asserted
she → bury → comments
Video appears to show White looking directly toward the play as it happens.
asserted
it → appear → play
The WNBA has a courage problem and it’s not Sophie Cunningham
asserted
it → have → problem
Now, looking isn't necessarily seeing.
asserted
looking → look → ?
Maybe she missed the contact.
asserted
she → miss → contact
Then came another press conference.
asserted
conference → come → ?
This time White talked about unity, love, grace and integrity while blasting the outside forces she
says are trying to divide the Fever and "hijack" the WNBA.
asserted
she → talk → WNBA
Right before she said, "Everybody else can go to hell."
asserted
Everybody → say → hell
But she’s right about one thing.
asserted
she → ’ → thing
Too many people are trying to turn every WNBA game into something other than basketball.
asserted
people → try → basketball
Most of those forces aren't coming from outside.
asserted
Most → come → forces
The WNBA invited them in.
asserted
WNBA → invite → them
For years the league has embraced political and cultural causes far beyond basketball.
asserted
league → embrace → basketball
Players have been celebrated for speaking out.
asserted
Players → celebrate → ?
Coaches have spoken out.
asserted
Coaches → speak → ?
…and 42 more, not listed.
The Aporia
