The issue of transgender rights has found its way to the WNBA.
In the eyes of the public, the case has always been simple: 7 in 10 voters (69%) say that biological males should not be allowed to compete in women's sports. That includes 72% of Republicans and 53% of Democrats. Just 20% say they should be allowed.
When it comes to the issue of the 2 former NBA players who now plan to enter the WNBA draft, voters are even more adamant: just 14% say former NBA players should be allowed to play. A solid majority (57%) say they should be banned, and another 10% say former NBA players should be banned, but not other biological males.
A Tale of Two Narratives
However, similar to the Sydney Sweeney debate, while the political bubble is paying rapt attention to what they consider a crucial issue, most of America is not. Six in 10 voters (59%) who talk politics daily say they are paying Very Close attention to the WNBA talks, compared to just 13% of the nation at large. In fact, when it comes to the vast majority who talk politics once a week or less, just 4% are paying Very Close attention.
The narratives told in political circles are also wildly out of touch with the nation at large. Half (49%) of those who talk politics daily say biological males should be allowed to play in the WNBA, and a majority (52%) say the NBA players should be allowed.
Does It Affect Biological Women?
Sixty-two percent (62%) of voters nationwide say allowing biological males to compete would deny opportunities for biological women to compete. Even more (66%) say it increases the chance of significant injury to biological women.
Interestingly, voters who talk politics daily are even more likely to believe both of these things are possibilities, even as they hold their out-of-touch views. At least 3 in 4 (75%) of this insiders crowd acknowledge these realities, but say they should be allowed to compete.
What Will Happen?
Voters are optomistic the league will side with the popular view: Just 14% think the league will rule to let the former NBA players play. Another 10% think the league will ban NBA players but not other biological males, and 50% believe the league will place a ban on biological males in the sport.
If the league, does let biological males play, just 21% say it is appropriate for them to use the same lockerrooms as biological women. Sixty-one percent (61%) disagree.
By a 44% to 27% margin, voters also think that, if the WNBA allows biological males the right to play, the NBA should no longer subsidize the league.
This data is from a Napolitan News Service survey of 1,000 Registered Voters conducted online by Scott Rasmussen, August 17, 2026. RMG Research, Inc., conducted the field work for the survey. It has a margin of error of +/- 3.1.
