The WNBA operates nether a corporate bargaining statement (CBA), a woody negotiated betwixt the league and its players relation (WNBPA), mounting rules connected matters including subordinate wage caps, gross sharing, benefits and wide league operations.
On subordinate eligibility, the CBA states: "Only players who are women are eligible to play successful the WNBA."
The WNBA has yet to remark publically connected the enactment since Cunningham's comments but league commissioner Cathy Engelbert reportedly sent a memo to teams past week successful which she said the substance would beryllium discussed astatine an upcoming pre-arranged gathering with squad presidents.
In the memo, seen by the Associated Press, external, Engelbert said the league would "always attack this taxable thoughtfully, respectfully, and successful alignment with the longstanding values of our league".
She added: "Our subordinate eligibility rules, dissimilar the eligibility rules of immoderate different leagues and governing bodies, are collectively bargained. Preserving the integrity of our crippled and ensuring just contention volition ever stay among the league's highest priorities."
However, the deficiency of item successful the league's eligibility criteria has been brought to airy by Kanter Freedom, who finished his playing vocation with the Boston Celtics successful 2022.
"If simply declaring who you are is each that's required, past I conscionable each azygous request indispensable to vie successful the WNBA," helium wrote connected Instagram, external.
Kanter Freedom, who has antecedently spoken retired astir quality rights violations successful China and Turkey, among different issues, added: "I cognize my beingness connected the tribunal volition disturbance up beardown opinions. I americium decidedly not present to mock, marque amusive of, oregon disrespect immoderate assemblage oregon idiosyncratic choices.
"I'm simply asking that the existent rules beryllium applied arsenic to everyone - the rules that correspond the precise values galore WNBA players and coaches person publically advocated for."
A time aft Kanter Freedom's 'announcement', Royce White - who made 3 appearances successful the NBA arsenic a subordinate and is present a Republican Senate campaigner - said helium would besides state for the Draft, adding: "I place arsenic sometimes identifying arsenic a pistillate for intent of basketball."
Whether the vagueness of the rules are by plan to permission it unfastened to transgender women oregon a motion of an oversight that genuinely needs tightening up is not clear.
BBC Sport has contacted Cunningham's representatives, the WNBA and WNBPA for comment.
English (US)·