Republican members of Congress are asking the WNBA to clarify its player eligibility rules and explain its policies on player and fan safety.
Indianapolis, Indiana Representative Marlin Stutzman led a letter to the WNBA commissioner on September 17 raising questions about the WNBA’s eligibility guidelines for players and its rules governing games involving incidents with fans.
The letter, obtained by OutKick and reported on by USA TODAY, was signed by five members of the House of Representatives.
What Questions is Congress Asking the WNBA?
One of the issues raised in the letter deals with the eligibility guidelines in the WNBA collective bargaining agreement.
The CBA specifically states that only women may play in the WNBA and cites other guidelines that determine eligibility, including age and college eligibility requirements.
In his letter, Stutzman asks for further clarification regarding the WNBA’s interpretation and implementation of the WNBA CBA eligibility guidelines.
This request follows recent instances of players claiming to be eligible for the draft, then being declared ineligible.
Former NBA players Enes Kanter Freedom and Royce White were both planning to enter the WNBA draft, but they were both ruled ineligible.
The letter specifically asks the WNBA to further clarify its interpretation and implementation of WNBA CBA guidelines.
Are Player and Fan Safety Policies a Problem for the WNBA?
In addition to asking the WNBA to explain its eligibility guidelines, the letter raises questions about the WNBA’s player and fan safety policies.
According to the letter, congress members have reviewed several recent incidents in which players and fans allegedly violated the WNBA’s rules.
In addition to asking the WNBA to address these specific issues, the letter also requests a general explanation of the WNBA’s policies in this area.
In one example, Chicago Sky guard DiJonai Carrington and Indiana Fever guard Sophie Cunningham were involved in an altercation on August 8. After a flagrant foul 2 was called, Carrington was ejected from the game for targeting Cunningham’s head and neck with her body. In a different incident occurring on August 12, Carrington and Golden State guard Tiffany Hayes were involved in an altercation.
The congress members are asking the WNBA for a detailed explanation of its WNBA player safety policy and its implementation. They also want the league to prove that its punishments were applied fairly and consistently.
However, the mere fact that a few incidents have occurred does not automatically indicate the league punished the players unfairly.
What is the Enes Kanter Case About?
One case the WNBA may need to explain involves former NBA player Enes Kanter Freedom.
On August 23, Kanter Freedom attended a Chicago Sky vs. Indiana Fever game at Wintrust Arena and argued with Chicago Sky guard Natasha Cloud, accusing her of being a man. Kanter Freedom was ejected from the game and banned from the arena for his disrespectful comments about Cloud, who plays for the WNBA Sky. Kanter Freedom was wearing a shirt containing offensive comments about women’s bodies when he got into the argument with Cloud. The altercation had previously sparked a Tik Tok social media campaign in which many expressed their distaste for statements made by Kanter’s opponents on social media. In response, the Chicago Sky organization banned Kanter from the arena grounds.
After being banned and then ejected from the game, Kanter filed a lawsuit, citing a First Amendment issue. He is suing the Chicago Sky, the City of Chicago and the Metropolitan Pier and Exposition Authority, which owns the arena.
Sky principal owner Michael Alter stronglyed the allegations in the lawsuit in an article appearing in The Athletic. He accused Kanter’s legal team of lying and taking advantage of the situation by filing a frivolous lawsuit. Earlier in the summer, Kanter’s Twitter account was permanently suspended after threatening to sue Twitter for not reinstating his account and restricting his free speech.
What Happens Next?
According to the letter, the WNBA has until October 16, 2026, to respond to the questions raised by the congress members.
It remains to be seen how the league responds to queries about the incidents noted in the letter.
Right now, the WNBA is in the process of looking for a new commissioner to replace Cathy Engelbert, who will not be returning for another term when her contract expires at the end of 2026. On September 4, Engelbert announced her decision to step down as WNBA commissioner, having served in the position for more than seven years.
Why this Matters for the WNBA
The congressional inquiry represents only the latest chapter in a long-standing public discussion regarding women’s eligibility to participate in women’s WNBA and other female-dominated professional sports leagues.
For the WNBA, the issue deals with the interpretation of its WNBA eligibility requirements and policies and consequences for the enforcement of its WNBA player safety guidelines.
For congress, the issues deal with other matters that occurred recently in which players or fans appeared to violate the league’s rules concerning player safety and fan conduct guidelines.
The WNBA’s response to the letter might add additional information regarding the interpretation of its eligibility requirements and policies and consequences for safety issues occurring during league games.
FAQs
What did the congress ask the WNBA?
The representatives from the United States Congress asked the WNBA to clarify its eligibility guidelines and explain its rules dealing with incidents concerning players and fans.
Who sent the letter to the WNBA?
The letter was headed by Indiana Congressman Marlin Stutzman, but South Carolina Congresswoman Sheri Biggs, Indiana Congresswoman Erin Houchin, Tennessee Congressman John Rose and Iowa Congressman Zach Nunn also signed the letter.
When does the WNBA have to respond to the letter from congress?
The WNBA has to respond to the letter by October 16, 2026.
What happened to Enes Kanter?
Enes Kanter was removed from a game at the Wintrust Arena, where he was attending a game with friends. He was ejected from the game after yelling at Chicago Sky guard Natasha Cloud, accusing her of being a man and claiming that she did not deserve to play in the WNBA. He later filed a lawsuit seeking compensation because his First Amendment rights were infringed.
Is the WNBA modifying its eligibility guidelines?
The letter asks the WNBA to clarify its current WNBA eligibility guidelines. The letter itself does not make any mention of any changes to those guidelines.
Has a transgender individual played in the WNBA?
According to the USA TODAY article, there has not been an openly transgender WNBA player.