The WNBA has once again found itself embroiled in controversy, thanks in large part to the reaction from Sophie Cunningham’s comments on male competition in women’s sports.
When Cunningham said that transgender male athletes should not compete in women’s sports, she echoed a position shared by 80% to 90% of the American public. And also one supported by the realities of biology and science considering the inherent physical advantages men have over women.
But her remarks set off a firestorm of criticism and backlash within the WNBA. Players, coaches, fans… all rushed to critique those comments, boo Cunningham whenever she touched the ball, or wear pointed clothing specifically in response to her statement. Several feigned ignorance of the science behind males in women’s sports. One co-owner was even suspended after confronting a young Cunningham supporter.
CLAY TRAVIS UPS OFFER TO $10 MILLION FOR WNBA CHAMPION LAS VEGAS ACES TO PLAY HIGH SCHOOL BOYS BASKETBALL TEAM
Indiana Fever guard Sophie Cunningham reacts to game action against the Portland Fire during the first half at Moda Center in Portland, Ore., on July 31, 2026. (IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
In order to educate those curiously uninformed coaches, OutKick founder Clay Travis publicly posted an offer to the WNBA: have the Las Vegas Aces, the league’s championship winning team, play a high school state title-winning boys’ basketball team, with $10 million at stake. Beat the boys, get $10 million. For a team with an estimated annual revenue of $33 million, that’s a substantial sum of money. Forbes even estimated the Aces were worth $300 million in 2025, meaning the $10 million prize would represent about 3.3% of the franchise’s valuation.
Yet more than 24 hours later, there’s been radio silence. Both from the league, from those coaches who are more than ready to jump in to defend left-wing politics whenever necessary, and from the Aces themselves.
OutKick then reached out to both the WNBA and the Aces organization to ask whether they’d consider Travis’ offer. And, as of the time of publishing, had received nothing but the same radio silence. Which raises the question: Why? Why not respond? Why not play the game? Travis posted an update on Tuesday that says there are teams “across the country” reaching out wanting to participate. While also revealing why the Aces won’t.
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Brianna Turner of the Las Vegas Aces publicly objected to the WNBA adding USA 250 patches to the league’s All-Star jerseys. (Getty Images)
“High school boys teams across the country are reaching out wanting to play the WNBA champ Las Vegas Aces,” he wrote. “But the Aces are silent. Tells you everything. They know they would get smoked. But men should definitely be allowed to play in their league per coaches. Such a joke.”
That’s precisely the problem. The league, the players, the coaches, the Aces… they all know what the outcome would be. Which doesn’t mean that the WNBA isn’t worth watching for its fans, or that the women who play in it aren’t extremely talented athletes in their own right. But it’s clear that the WNBA exists because there are differences between men and women. Nobody’s asking them to downplay their own talent, they’re asking for a sports league to acknowledge the most basic tenets of objective reality. And they can’t do it, because their commitment to left-wing politics comes first.
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Travis also posted asking why the “WNBA (won’t) just issue a statement saying only players born as women are eligible to play in their league? The Olympics and women’s tennis have done it. Caitlin Clark asked the league to make a statement. Seems pretty easy to do. Why the silence?”
Caitlin Clark addressed the women’s sports transgender athletes controversy after the Fever’s loss, saying it’s for leagues and governing bodies to find solutions with their athletes. (Getty Images)
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That’s it. That’s not an enormous lift. It’s not an unreasonable ask. It’s the only justifiable position to maintain competitive integrity. And they can’t do it, and they won’t do it. Losing to an elite high school boy’s basketball team wouldn’t be embarrassing. But their complete and utter silence sure is.