Viral campaign pushes WNBA debate over French trans player

The WNBA's regular season has become a central stage for a heated national debate on transgender participation in women's sports, amplified by a viral online campaign calling for the league to sign a French transgender player. The discussion, which now often overshadows on-court action, was reignited by a social media post urging a team to sign Julie Tétart, a 34-year-old center who recently dominated France's second-tier women's basketball league, Ligue 2.

According to statistics cited in the posts, Tétart averaged 21 points and 20 rebounds per game during the 2025-2026 season, leading Ligue 2 in both categories and earning Player of the Year, Defensive Player of the Year, and Domestic Player of the Year honors. The viral campaign included calls for teams like the Indiana Fever to sign her. In a direct exchange on Monday, Tétart acknowledged that playing in the WNBA remains a childhood dream. She stated she would not turn down an offer from an inclusive franchise but expressed realism about her age and cited the political climate in the United States as a hurdle.

The online push for Tétart’s signing comes amid existing, sharp divisions within the WNBA itself. Last month,...