Republican congressman gives WNBA (meaningless) deadline to define 'women'

This story originally appeared on Them.Indiana House Rep. Marlin Stutzman is demanding that outgoing WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert define “woman” in the league’s eligibility rules. In a letter to Engelbert obtained by Fox News’ sports vertical OutKick, Stutzman and other members of Congress questioned Engelbert’s leadership when it comes to the question of trans athletes. The letter accuses the league of “repeated failure to protect the players in your league.” The letter, signed by Stutzman as well as legislators Sherri Biggs, Erin Houchin, John Rose, and Zach Nunn, calls out the WNBA for failing to define “women” in its eligibility standards, which allows any woman to be a part of the professional women’s league. “As a women’s sports league, the WNBA must ensure the League remains exclusively for biological women,” the letter reads, per OutKick. “As Sophie Cunningham has commented, women should not have to face biological men playing in the WNBA. Opening eligibility to biological men would not only create an unfair advantage but would also risk player safety for the women playing in the WNBA.”The letter specifically cites the cases of former NBA players Enes Kanter Freedom and Royce White, both of whom announced their intent to register in the WNBA draft as women on August 7. The WNBA ruled both White and Freedom ineligible to be in the WNBA in late August. Citing the WNBA’s decision to ban Freedom and White, Stutzman wrote, “This action indicates the League certainly understands the biological difference between men and women, and has even gone so far as to enforce that distinction when deciding eligibility.” The Republican-written letter speaks not only on the WNBA’s eligibility rules, but also comments on recent issues around fouling at games, highlighting a flagrant foul called on DiJonai Carrington for making contact with Sophie Cunningham’s face at an August 8 game. The letter also draws attention to a verbal excha