Martina Navratilova has drawn attention for suggesting the WNBA may be keeping the identity of a transgender player under wraps. Her comments come amid renewed debate over transgender eligibility in women’s professional basketball, despite no evidence that such a player is currently in the league.
The debate has also put renewed scrutiny on the WNBA’s eligibility rules and Navratilova’s years-long opposition to transgender women competing in women’s sports.
3Tennis legend Martina Navratilova has fueled an unsubstantiated theory that the WNBA may be concealing the presence of a transgender player.
The 18-time Grand Slam singles champion weighed in Sunday after comedian MJ Murphy wrote on X that the public cannot know whether any “biological males” are playing in the league.
“Exactly. And that’s on purpose, most likely…” Navratilova replied. When another user claimed there was rumored to be one transgender woman in the WNBA, Navratilova responded, “Point is nobody knows.”
There is no evidence that the league currently has a transgender player.
Former NBA Players Put WNBA Eligibility Rules In The Spotlight
The speculation follows attempts by former NBA players Royce White and Enes Kanter Freedom to declare themselves eligible for the WNBA draft. Both announced their intentions on August 7, arguing the league’s eligibility language did not adequately define who qualifies as a woman.
The WNBA rejected their eligibility on August 13.
Navratilova has been a vocal opponent of transgender athletes competing in women’s sports for years. In 2019, she described allowing transgender women to compete against cisgender women as “insane” and “cheating.”
Navratilova Blasts NCAA Over Caitlin Clark Snub
3Navratilova also didn’t hold back after Caitlin Clark was noticeably absent from an NCAA women’s basketball post celebrating former college stars making WNBA history.
The promotional video highlighted records involving A’ja Wilson, Paige Bueckers, Olivia Miles and Angel Reese. Clark, who owns the WNBA rookie assists record after recording 337 in 2024, wasn’t featured.
“How stupid is this??? Yup- this stupid,” Navratilova fired back on X.
Martina Navratilova Reveals Her Picks To Win The US Open
Away from the controversy, Navratilova has been putting her decades of tennis expertise to work by predicting who could triumph at the US Open.
Speaking to Sky Sports, the four-time US Open singles champion picked Alexander Zverev to take the men’s crown. Fellow pundit Tim Henman agreed with her choice, with the men’s field looking particularly open this year.
On the women’s side, Navratilova backed Iga Swiatek to walk away with the trophy. Marion Bartoli had different ideas, selecting Coco Gauff for the women’s title and Novak Djokovic for the men’s.
Martina Navratilova Offers More US Open Analysis
3Navratilova has also been busy dissecting some of the biggest early storylines at the US Open. She praised Carlos Alcaraz’s return from a lengthy wrist injury after he defeated Roman Safiullin 6-4, 6-4, 6-4 in his first match since April.
Navratilova called the outing “the perfect situation,” noting that Alcaraz was tested without being pushed too far. She also felt the best-of-five format could work in his favor as he builds confidence and match fitness.
The tennis great offered a harsher assessment of Arthur Fils after his shock first-round loss to Stefanos Tsitsipas.
Fils led by a set and two breaks before eventually falling in four sets. Navratilova believed fatigue was the decisive factor after the Frenchman played five consecutive weeks during the North American hard-court swing.
“He is cooked. He ran out of gas,” she said. Navratilova also credited Tsitsipas for staying composed and described the comeback as “a victory for persistence.”
