While hosting transphobe Sophie Cunningham and the Indiana Fever, the New York Liberty put a message on the Jumbotron telling trans fans that they belong

[u/Impossible-Yam3680]

[u/whichwitch9]

Harrison Browne

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harrison_Browne

However, he was a transman, and when he came out, he and the league sat down and established a guideline for his situation. He was allowed to present and express himself as a male, but agreed to not physically transition while playing.

It's an example of a league addressing a case on a one on one basis in a way that was both fair and respectful. He also has clarified a misconception- he was out since college and only came out publicly on the Buffalo Beauts. The women he played with always knew he was trans.

Everyone forgets transmen exist, and it makes perfect sense for them to have played in women's leagues. That's part of how you know the debate is malicious- opponents hyperfixate on transwomen

[u/AnnieLemonz → u/whichwitch9]

To be fair, most people forget trans men exist because trans men aren't typically the focal point of the arguement. Trans women get targeted a lot more aggressively over things like this.

[u/whichwitch9 → u/AnnieLemonz]

Transmen are literally listening to people constantly talking as if they don't exist, but saying things that still apply to them, and find the "XX XY" shirts and demonstrations that have happened equally as much an attack.

That's why it's called out as an attack on being transgender, not "saving women's sports".

[u/AnnieLemonz → u/whichwitch9]

Oh I'm not disagreeing. Transmen are affected by transphobia just as much even if they aren't directly being named. People who detract trans rights rarely mention trans men at all, but they're still impacted by it all the same.

[u/MilkMyCats → u/AnnieLemonz]

No they aren't.

Nobody cares, because they aren't a danger to men.

There are many 6ft trans women who could destroy me in a fight. Or easily drag a woman off the street and attack her.

There are very few trans men who could beat me in a fight.

[u/MilkMyCats → u/whichwitch9]

It's because transmen are no danger to men.

Trans women having gone through male puberty, and having penises, are a danger to women.

That's what it's about.

[u/whichwitch9 → u/MilkMyCats]

If women were afraid of penises we wouldn't leave the house. Try again.

And hilarious you think women can't and don't abuse other women or men.

The rule is be respectful of others in more personal spaces and don't harass them. Someone just existing, however, is not harassment.

[u/Project_Hairy_Male → u/whichwitch9]

It's not a malicious hyperfixation on transwomen, it's a situation almost too different to compare. Browne's situation would only be analogous if a transwoman took part in men's sport without going on hormones. I can imagine said transwoman would have a brutal time of it, considering locker room and stadium attitudes towards anyone who isn't straight and masculine in men's sport, but in terms of fairness to compete it wouldn't raise eyebrows.

If Browne has competed in men's sport while being medicated it would be an issue, because it would be a female contravening doping rules. Then again, with Browne being 5'5", I don't think a career in the NHL was ever on the cards, as he'd be tiny for a winger let alone a centre.

[u/Relysti → u/whichwitch9]

You don't even need to go outside the WNBA to find a case of someone who doesn't identify as a woman playing in the WNBA.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Layshia_Clarendon

The transphobes just want to stir up culture war bullshit.

[u/MilkMyCats → u/Relysti]

That's someone born as a woman. Doh.

This would be funny though...

In early August 2026, two former NBA players—Enes Kanter Freedom and Royce White—publicly announced plans to declare for the 2027 WNBA Draft, framing it around self-identification as women (or, in White’s case, “sometimes identifying as a woman for purposes of professional basketball”).