Aryna Sabalenka left no doubt where she stands in the ongoing debate over transgenders athletes competing in women’s sports, taking the same side as WNBA star Sophie Cunningham.
The Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) began to institute mandatory genetic testing for all players as of Tuesday and the world’s top-ranked women’s player was asked about the controversial policy.
During a news conference in Toronto ahead of her opening match at the National Bank Open, Sabalenka said that new genetic testing in her spot will ensure a level playing field for female competitors.
“It is really important to keep fairness in our tour,” Sabalenka said on Monday. “It is obvious that, biologically, the men are way stronger than women, so I feel like it would be not really fair for a woman to compete against a biological man.
“I believe it took them a little while to make this decision and I support it.”
“For me, I’m focusing on myself, on my goals, whatever it takes,” she said. “If they want to test us all, I’m happy to do that. It’s pretty fair and let’s keep it that way.”
What are the WTA’s new rules?
All players aiming to compete in tournaments under the WTA Tour umbrella must submit to testing for the SRY gene, which requires a single swab or blood sample. Under the previous rules, women who had undergone gender reassignment surgery and maintained a lower testosterone level for at least two years had been allowed to compete in WTA tournaments.
According to Tennis World, there currently are no active players on the WTA Tour who have changed their gender and there has been just one in history: Renee Richards, who competed from 1977-1981.
What did Sophie Cunningham say?
Cunningham went viral last month when she waded into the ongoing heated debate, stating that young girls shouldn’t have to compete against biological men.
“I got a lot of negative feedback about me hating trans. And I’m like, ‘I never once said that,’” she said. “I think that I am here to extend love. But I also think with that love is truth, being honest.
“I want to protect young girls in a locker room, or young girls in sport who shouldn’t have to go against biological men.”
The interview poured fuel on the fire for the debate online, with many of Cunningham’s critics already having dubbed her ‘MAGA Barbie.’
With the interview having gone viral, Cunningham was asked about her comments before a game between the Fever and the Connecticut Sun — and firmly stood behind her beliefs.
“I said what I said, I think it’s common sense,” she said. “I think I’ll always believe in that, it’s really important to protect children. And that’s little girls, who are also involved in that category.
“I stand by what I said and I’ll always believe that.”
She also reaffirmed that she doesn’t “dislike” transgender people and that there should be space for everyone in sports.
“I extend love, I don’t dislike anyone, I think there’s room for absolutely everyone here,” she said. “I think there’s room to love everyone. I truly think when you get people in the same room, you actually have a lot in common with a lot of people … But I’m also there to love biological women, and I think there are rights that need to be protected.”
What did Caitlin Clark say about the issue?
Cunningham’s superstar Fever teammate Caitlin Clark broke her silence on the matter this past weekend.
“I think it’s for leagues and governing bodies to work with their athletes to find solutions,” Clark told reporters following her team’s 108-100 loss to the Minnesota Lynx on Sunday.
“Our focus is on basketball,” she continued. “That’s what we talk about and how we can get wins, and, obviously, we didn’t do that tonight.”
A follow-up question was shut down by Clark, who said sternly, “I just answered for you.”