Former NBA player Enes Kanter Freedom declared himself a prospect for the 2027 WNBA Draft on Friday, challenging the league to explain how its current eligibility rules would rule him out.
“After careful consideration and reviewing the current eligibility guidelines, I’m officially declaring myself a @WNBA prospect,” Freedom said.
“If simply declaring who you are is all that’s required, then I meet every single requirement necessary to compete in the WNBA.”
Freedom said his team had reviewed the league’s eligibility criteria and policies surrounding what he described as “self-identification and inclusion,” arguing that nothing in those rules prevents him from declaring himself eligible for the 2027 draft. 
“Based on the current guidelines, I can and am officially declaring my eligibility for the upcoming WNBA draft in April 2027,” he added.
The WNBA&#8217;s publicly available draft eligibility rules do not state that a player can become eligible simply by self-identifying as a woman. The league does not appear to have a publicly stated policy that explicitly bars transgender-identifying men from competing in the WNBA.
According to OutKick/Fox News Digital, the WNBA&#8217;s newly signed collective bargaining agreement <a href="https://www.foxnews.com/outkick-sports/wnba-silent-whether-french-transgender-star-dominating-womens-league-eligible-play">states</a>: &#8220;Only players who are women are eligible to play in the WNBA.&#8221; The outlet reported that the 409-page agreement &#8220;never defines &#8216;woman&#8217; or &#8216;women.&#8217; The terms &#8216;transgender&#8217; and &#8216;gender identity&#8217; don&#8217;t appear anywhere in the document.&#8221;
Freedom sought to head off criticism that the move was intended to mock transgender-identifying people, saying he was instead asking the WNBA to apply its rules consistently. 
“I know my presence on the court will stir up strong opinions,” Freedom said. “I am definitely not here to mock, make fun of, or disrespect any community or personal choices.”
“I’m simply asking that the current rules be applied equally to everyone — the rules that represent the very values many WNBA players and coaches have publicly advocated for.”
The stunt comes amid a growing controversy surrounding transgender-identifying athletes participating in women’s sports and the WNBA in particular. 
Indiana Fever guard Sophie Cunningham has publicly argued that women’s sports should remain protected for female athletes. Her comments drew criticism from leftists and sparked a broader debate over where WNBA players and the league itself stand on transgender inclusion.
Some WNBA players and coaches have expressed support for transgender-identifying athletes competing in women’s sports. Golden State Valkyries forward Gabby Williams, for example, has <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/another-wnba-star-enters-the-men-in-womens-sports-debate">said</a> she would welcome a transgender-identifying athlete on her team or as an opponent.
Freedom is now challenging the league to apply that philosophy to his own declared eligibility. 
“My team and I are prepared to ensure these guidelines are applied equally, consistently, and without exception,” Freedom said. “I look forward to the #WNBA honoring its stated principles.”
“See you at training camp.”
Freedom, 34, was selected third overall by the Utah Jazz in the 2011 NBA Draft and spent more than a decade playing in the NBA. He became increasingly outspoken on political and international issues during his career, particularly over the Chinese Communist Party and the NBA’s relationship with China, and has pursued political activism since leaving the league.
Freedom is 6-foot-10 and had a listed playing weight of 250 pounds during his NBA career, which would make him the heaviest player in the WNBA and among its tallest.
The stunt bears an obvious resemblance to &#8220;Lady Ballers,&#8221; the DailyWire+ comedy in which a group of men competes in women’s sports after discovering how far self-identification can take them under left-wing sporting policies.
The WNBA did not immediately respond to The Daily Wire&#8217;s request for clarification on its draft eligibility rules.

Washington Wizards v Boston Celtics

Former NBA Player Declares For WNBA Draft

Basketball

female sports

Sports

trans

Transgender

transgender athlete

Transgender Athletes

Transgenders

WNBA

Women Sports

Women's Basketball

Women's sports

A top lawyer tied to a now-defunct transgender program for kids is hosting a high-dollar fundraiser on Saturday for Texas Democratic Senate candidate James Talarico, according to social media posts. 
The campaign event in Houston will be hosted by Afsheen Davis, senior vice president and general counsel for Texas Children’s Hospital. It comes just days after Texas Republican Attorney General Ken Paxton <a href="https://x.com/KenPaxtonTX/status/2085120779398877586">announced</a> a final settlement with the hospital requiring it to establish what his office has described as the nation&#8217;s first-ever &#8220;detransition&#8221; clinic. 
&#8220;As an organization, we respect our team members’ rights to their own opinions and beliefs on political matters, and at the same time those pursuits are personal and do not represent the company or its position,&#8221; a hospital spokesperson told The Daily Wire. &#8220;It’s both common practice and an individual right for employees to host fundraising events in their personal capacity.&#8221;
The fundraiser, which was <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/DbbZsOrG1kM/?img_index=2">advertised</a> at a Texas Trial Lawyers Association event, will also be hosted by Josh Davis, Afsheen Davis&#8217; husband. Josh Davis is a <a href="https://www.ttla.com/?pg=Leadership" target="_blank" rel="noopener">member</a> of the Texas Trial Lawyers Association executive committee and runs a personal-injury law firm. 
The Daily Wire reached out to Talarico’s campaign and Davis for more details on the fundraiser. 
Talarico and Paxton are locked in a fierce general election race for the U.S. Senate seat currently held by Republican Sen. John Cornyn, with multiple polls showing a close contest. 
<div id="attachment_1153375" style="width: 1044px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-1153375" class="size-full wp-image-1153375" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/08/Screenshot-2026-08-07-at-12.43.42-PM.png" alt="" width="1034" height="1007" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/08/Screenshot-2026-08-07-at-12.43.42-PM.png 1034w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/08/Screenshot-2026-08-07-at-12.43.42-PM-300x292.png 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/08/Screenshot-2026-08-07-at-12.43.42-PM-591x576.png 591w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/08/Screenshot-2026-08-07-at-12.43.42-PM-768x748.png 768w" sizes=" (max-width: 1034px) 100vw, 1034px" />Texas Trial Lawyers Association Instagram.</div>
The settlement requires Texas Children&#8217;s to pay $10 million — roughly $8.6 million of it to the state — to resolve claims that the hospital billed Texas Medicaid for illegal transgender procedures on kids, including by using false diagnosis codes. The hospital must also establish a “detransition” clinic by the end of October 2026. Texas Children&#8217;s has denied violating the law.
Davis and the hospital are also defendants in a separate lawsuit involving the hospital&#8217;s former gender-transition program.
Dr. Eithan Haim, who worked at Texas Children&#8217;s,<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/exclusive-elon-musk-funds-suit-against-texas-childrens-for-malicious-prosecution-of-eithan-haim"> sued</a> Davis and other hospital officials, accusing the hospital of lying about ending its transgender medical program and claiming it was still performing attempted transition procedures on children as young as 11.
During the Biden administration, federal prosecutors accused Haim of improperly accessing patients&#8217; records. Haim said Davis was among those at the hospital who helped the Biden administration bring a case against him. Those charges were dropped shortly after Trump took office. 
In a lawsuit filed in January, Haim alleged that Davis and other hospital officials sought to have him &#8220;criminally charged and provided federal authorities the entire basis for the government’s investigation and subsequent indictment of Dr. Haim.”
Talarico&#8217;s past promotion of transgender ideology has been a focus of Republican attacks during the Senate race. While Talarico recently said he does not support transgender surgeries on kids, he <a href="https://journals.house.texas.gov/HJRNL/88R/PDF/88RDAY63FINAL.PDF">voted against</a> a 2023 law that protected minors from transgender surgeries and cross-sex hormone procedures.

US-NEWS-TEXASSENATE-TALARICO-CHILDCARE-3-FT

Top Lawyer Tied To Defunct Trans Program Hosting James Talarico Fundraiser

2026 Midterms

James Talarico

John Cornyn

Ken Paxton

Senate

Texas

Golden State Valkyries star Gabby Williams became the first active WNBA player to declare she’d gladly share a locker room with biological men identifying as women.
Williams called trans inclusion &#8220;our new battle&#8221; while claiming rights are being &#8220;stripped away&#8221; from transgender individuals.
“I think it&#8217;s trans rights that now is our new battle,” Williams stated. “That&#8217;s what I think I was saying, that the battles have changed. Our intentions have been the same, but now the environment has changed. We see trans people&#8217;s rights being stripped away from them. There&#8217;s a lot of discourse around trans athletes and what they can compete in. I would welcome a trans athlete on my team or against my team anytime. I don&#8217;t think it&#8217;s a problem in the world, it&#8217;s just another way to kind of attack trans people.”
Williams singled out former “non-binary” WNBA player Layshia Clarendon for praise.
&#8220;You know, we&#8217;ve seen players like Layshia Clarendon, who stepped into that forefront and have been brave enough and courageous enough to kind of step up. So I guess that&#8217;s the next battle that we have to fight as athletes.”
Williams&#8217; radical invite comes on the heels of a league-wide rift sparked by Indiana Fever guard Sophie Cunningham, who stood up for protecting women in sports. Cunningham ignited the debate last month by bluntly stating she wants to &#8220;protect young girls in a locker room, or young girls in sport who shouldn&#8217;t have to go against biological men,&#8221; before shutting down online mobs with a <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/sophie-cunningham-triples-down-on-haters-with-ice-cold-instagram-post%5d">defiant</a>, &#8220;I said what I said.&#8221;
The feud reached a boiling point on the court when Minnesota Lynx head coach Cheryl Reeve strutted out in a &#8220;Trans Kids Belong&#8221; t-shirt, earning a <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/espn-praises-wnba-coach-after-trans-sports-jab-at-sophie-cunningham">public plug</a> from ESPN announcer Rebecca Lobo. Meanwhile, Fever head coach Stephanie White <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/sophie-cunninghams-coach-asked-where-she-stands-on-men-in-womens-sports">ducked the issue</a> entirely, claiming she wasn&#8217;t &#8220;educated enough from a scientific standpoint&#8221; to take a stand.
While corporate execs and coaches hem and haw, Cunningham’s common-sense defense of female athletics has rallied fans nationwide, even drawing backing from White House Press Secretary <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/karoline-leavitt-rips-leftist-backlash-to-sophie-cunninghams-trans-sports-comments">Karoline Leavitt</a> and activist Riley Gaines.
The heat has even spilled into the stands. In Seattle, Storm co-owner Celeste Keaton was punished after flying off the handle in an <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/wnba-co-owner-accused-of-cursing-out-teen-girls-over-xx-xy-shirts?author=Hank+Berrien&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=8&amp;row=0&amp;rowType=Vertical+List&amp;title=WNBA+Co-Owner+Accused+Of+Cursing+Out+Teen+Girls+Over+XX-XY+Shirts">expletive-laced tirade</a> against two 16-year-old girls wearing gear supporting Cunningham’s position.

WNBA: AUG 04 Toronto Tempo at Golden State Valkyries

Another WNBA Star Enters The Men In Women’s Sports Debate

Sophie Cunningham

The Senate is expected to vote Friday on a bipartisan bill designed to bring order to college athletics, but Republicans are divided over whether it could inadvertently undermine state laws barring biological males from competing in women&#8217;s sports. 
Sen. Josh Hawley (R-MO) warned Wednesday that the legislation contains a “big, big problem,” arguing its federal preemption language could override Missouri&#8217;s law targeting transgender-identifying athletes.  
“I’m against men in women’s sports, and Missouri has a law that bans men in women’s sports that applies to collegiate eligibility,” Hawley said. “My concern is that this bill as it’s currently drafted would overturn Missouri law. Twenty-seven states have similar bans. This is something that needs to be fixed.” 
Hawley has filed an amendment with Sens. Jim Banks (R-IN) and Tommy Tuberville (R-AL) that would explicitly exempt state and local laws prohibiting biological males from competing in women&#8217;s sports from the bill&#8217;s federal preemption provision.
Tuberville called the protection of women’s athletics “the civil rights issue of our time.” 
Banks added, “As the father of three daughters, I can’t support any legislation that would preempt Indiana’s law. This amendment would make sure the Protect College Sports Act protects female athletes.” 
The bill was primarily written to establish national standards for name, image, and likeness (NIL) payments and preempt the patchwork of state NIL laws governing college athletics.
But Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX), who coauthored the bill with Sen. Maria Cantwell (D-WA), rejected Hawley&#8217;s criticism.
“That’s simply inaccurate,” Cruz <a href="https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/6012731-senate-gop-internal-squabbles/">said</a>. “The legislation explicitly has language, number one, that nothing in the bill alters Title IX in any way. And, number two, it explicitly says on eligibility that you can be blocked from eligibility for violating a state law. That was written very deliberately to avoid disturbing the twenty-seven states that have acted to protect women’s sports.” 
Despite Hawley’s questions, Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) filed a cloture motion to advance the bill to a vote on Friday. 
&#8220;I&#8217;m hoping it can be worked out,&#8221; Thune said. “I know what it’s about and I think … some of our members have pretty good answers to some of the questions he’s raising,” 
Thune added, “I’m hopeful that we’ll have the bipartisan votes to get on the bill.” 
The legislation is backed by <a href="https://www.commerce.senate.gov/press/rep/release/committee-releases-revised-protect-college-sports-act/">28</a> collegiate athletic conferences and more than 370 colleges and universities across all 50 states.

NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament – Final Four – Phoenix

GOP Split Over Whether College Sports Bill Threatens Women’s Sports

college athletics

College sports

federal preemption

Josh Hawley

Protect College Sports Act

Ted Cruz

Clavicular

DEEP DIVE: The Complicated And Sordid History Of Looksmaxxing. It’s Not What You Think.

Gen Z

Matt Walsh

Plastic Surgery

young men

Young people

WASHINGTON—Connecticut Children&#8217;s Medical Center has entered an agreement with the Justice Department not to perform transgender procedures on children, The Daily Wire can first report.
The move comes as part of the Justice Department&#8217;s nationwide effort to end transgender pediatric programs, building on President Donald Trump&#8217;s executive order ending federal support for such procedures on children.
Connecticut Children&#8217;s agreed not to perform &#8220;sex-rejecting procedures on minors,&#8221; including puberty blockers, hormones, and surgeries, according to documents shared with The Daily Wire. The hospital also agreed to pay a monetary penalty and, significantly, to &#8220;dedicate&#8221; $500,000 in medical care for detransitioners, people living through the mental and physical aftereffects of so-called &#8220;gender-affirming care.&#8221;
“The Department of Justice will stop at nothing to protect America’s children,” said Associate Attorney General Stanley Woodward. “This resolution is a reminder to hospitals, medical providers, and pharmaceutical companies that the Justice Department will vigorously enforce federal law, especially where the lives of children are endangered.”
Over the past five years, many young people have come forward with tragic stories of the mental and physical anguish that attempted gender transition procedures have caused them. The Trump administration argues that these procedures are incredibly harmful to minors, and that medical professionals promoting them are harming children.
The DOJ previously reached similar agreements with Texas Children&#8217;s Hospital and the Cleveland Clinic Foundation. The Justice Department specifically praised the latter hospital for taking &#8220;significant steps&#8221; to help the DOJ with its investigation, remaining &#8220;cooperative, proactive, and solution-driven&#8221; throughout the process. The Cleveland Clinic Foundation also committed to giving financial restorative care to victims, the DOJ said.
The DOJ&#8217;s Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Division, Brett Shumate, vowed that the agency &#8220;cannot and will not rest in our pursuit of justice for the victims of these discredited practices,&#8221; calling the agreements between the DOJ and the hospitals encouraging.
U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Ryan Raybould promised that the DOJ will &#8220;act swiftly and decisively&#8221; to protect children from &#8220;unsafe medical practices&#8221; that violate federal law.
The president&#8217;s executive order directed the DOJ to review how it enforces Section 116 of Title 18 of the U.S. Code on genital mutilation, to convene attorneys general and other law enforcement to enforce this law, to promote legislation enacting a private right of action for kids and their parents who have endured these harmful practices, and, among other actions, to &#8220;prioritize investigations and take appropriate action to end child-abusive practices by so-called sanctuary States that facilitate stripping custody from parents who support the healthy development of their own children, including by considering the application of the Parental Kidnapping Prevention Act and recognized constitutional rights.&#8221;

US-JUSTICE-POLITICS-EPSTEIN

EXCLUSIVE: Blue State Hospital Bows To DOJ, Ends Trans Procedures For Kids

Connecticut

A man is dominating women&#8217;s basketball in France, sparking questions about the WNBA&#8217;s supposed commitment to be &#8220;inclusive&#8221; with transgender athletes.
A six-foot-three male hooper named Julie Tétart has absolutely dominated France&#8217;s Ligue Féminine 2 league, which is the second-highest level of women&#8217;s pro ball in the country. Tétart averaged 21 points and a stunning 20 rebounds per game while shooting nearly 61% from the field during the 2025-26 season.
Tétart has unsurprisingly rewritten the record books, becoming the first player in the league to post 30 rebounds in a single game. In 12 different games, Tétart recorded at least 20 rebounds.
The male athlete was named Player of the Year, Defensive Player of the Year, and French (Domestic) Player of the Year in BeBasket&#8217;s annual awards following the 2025–26 season.
Outkick asked Tétart if he would consider playing in the WNBA if they offered him a contract. He <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/DbocbN4oHWl/?img_index=1&amp;igsh=d20yaHAxMGtodmIw">responded</a>, &#8220;If they contact me, I won&#8217;t say no. But you have to be realistic: I&#8217;m old, and there are far better players than me. Obviously, it&#8217;s a childhood dream just like for any female basketball player, but unfortunately, it&#8217;s not possible.&#8221;
The standout, however, is not a prospect for the all-inclusive WNBA.
Outkick founder and radio host Clay Travis <a href="https://x.com/ClayTravis/status/2084782956577464570">mocked</a> the league, posting, &#8220;This b*tch can ball. I can’t believe the transphobic [WNBA] won’t sign this woman.&#8221;
Travis joked in another post, &#8220;This dude is my favorite women’s basketball player ever.&#8221;
The issue of men in women&#8217;s sports has become a lightning rod in the WNBA in recent weeks after Indiana Fever guard Sophie Cunningham came out strongly against allowing men to compete in female sports.
&#8220;It’s kind of common sense, and I think I’ll always believe in that. I think it’s really important to protect children, and that’s little girls who are also involved in that category,&#8221; Cunningham said. &#8220;I stand on what I said and I’m going to always believe that.”
“I’m not a very political person, but I do have beliefs,” the WNBA star continued. “I have morals, and I’ll always stand on those and be true to who I am, and I think people are going to take it how they want to take it. … When it comes to protecting young girls in sport and women in sport, I feel very strongly about that.”
The league, including numerous coaches and players, has since counter-signaled Cunningham and promoted males in female sports. Cunningham, for her part, has refused to back down.
Related: <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/worlds-top-female-tennis-player-takes-stand-for-womens-sports?author=Amanda+Prestigiacomo&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=1&amp;row=0&amp;rowType=Vertical+List&amp;title=World’s+Top+Female+Tennis+Player+Takes+Stand+For+Women’s+Sports">World’s Top Female Tennis Player Takes Stand For Women’s Sports</a>

Screenshot

Coming To WNBA? Man Dominates Women’s Basketball Overseas

Coming To WNBA? Man Dominating Women’s Basketball Overseas

Europe

France

The world&#8217;s top-ranked female tennis player has taken a stand for female athletes.
Aryna Sabalenka, who is ranked No. 1 in women&#8217;s singles, said earlier this week that women&#8217;s tennis must be kept fair and female, backing a one-time gender test for athletes.
“The WTA (Women&#8217;s Tennis Association) recently announced that players will take a one-time gender test,” a reporter said to Sabalenka. “How do you feel about that?” 
“I think it&#8217;s really important to keep the fairness in our tour,” Sabalenka responded, adding that “men are way stronger than women.” 
“I feel like it would be not really fair for the woman to compete against biological men,” the Belarusian tennis player continued. “I believe it took them a little while to make the decision and I support it.”
“If they want to test us all, I&#8217;m happy to do that,” she added. “It&#8217;s pretty fair and let&#8217;s keep it that way.” 
The WTA announced in July that its Women&#8217;s Eligibility Policy will now be based on biological sex, as opposed to so-called gender identity. Now, all players competing on the women&#8217;s tour must undergo a one-time genetic screening for the SRY gene, which is associated with male biology. Players can be tested using either a cheek swab or blood sample.
Back in December 2025, Sabalenka voiced similar comments about the trans sports issue.
&#8220;I think it&#8217;s not fair on women to face basically biological men,&#8221; she <a href="https://www.reuters.com/sports/tennis/sabalenka-says-women-facing-transgender-athletes-not-fair-2025-12-10/">said</a> at the time. &#8220;The woman has been working her whole life to reach her limit and then she has to face a man, who is biologically much stronger, so for me I don&#8217;t agree with this kind of stuff in sport.&#8221;
<div id="attachment_1150105" style="width: 861px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-1150105" class="wp-image-1150105 size-large" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/08/GettyImages-2283904721-851x576.jpg" alt="" width="851" height="576" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/08/GettyImages-2283904721-851x576.jpg 851w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/08/GettyImages-2283904721-300x203.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/08/GettyImages-2283904721-768x520.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/08/GettyImages-2283904721.jpg 1024w" sizes=" (max-width: 851px) 100vw, 851px" />Robert Prange/Getty Images</div>
Sabalenka&#8217;s comments come on the heels of WNBA star Sophie Cunningham taking a bold stance for women. Bucking the league&#8217;s messaging and other players&#8217; activism, Cunningham said biological males should not be allowed in female sports and that she will always stand up for female athletes and advocate for fairness.
Cunningham doubled down on her position last week. &#8220;I said what I said,” she said, adding, “It’s kind of common sense, and I think I&#8217;ll always believe in that. I think it&#8217;s really important to protect children, and that&#8217;s little girls who are also involved in that category. I stand on what I said and I&#8217;m going to always believe that.”
“I&#8217;m not a very political person, but I do have beliefs,” she continued. “I have morals, and I&#8217;ll always stand on those and be true to who I am, and I think people are going to take it how they want to take it. … When it comes to protecting young girls in sport and women in sport, I feel very strongly about that.”
Related: <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/watch-sophie-cunningham-doubles-down-on-protecting-girls-from-trans-athletes?author=Amanda+Prestigiacomo&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=7&amp;row=0&amp;rowType=Vertical+List&amp;title=WATCH%3A+Sophie+Cunningham+Doubles+Down+On+Protecting+Girls+From+Trans+Athletes">WATCH: Sophie Cunningham Doubles Down On Protecting Girls From Trans Athletes</a>

WTA 1000 National Bank Open Presented by Rogers 2026 – Day 1

World’s Top Female Tennis Player Takes Stand For Women’s Sports

No. 1 Female Tennis Player Takes Stand For Women’s Sports

LGBT

Tennis

A lead actor who stepped down from his principal role in a Broadway show earlier this week has now apologized for comments he made criticizing the transgender movement.
Producers for the Broadway show &#8220;Hadestown&#8221; announced on Sunday that Geno Segers would no longer be stepping into the lead role as “Hades” in the popular show on September 1.
“The producers of ‘Hadestown’ and Geno Segers have mutually agreed that Mr. Segers will no longer join the Broadway production. Additional casting will be announced shortly,” the statement said. While the production heads gave no specific reason at the time, the move coincided with resurfaced comments Segers made about trans people and pronoun use going viral online.
Clips of Segers&#8217; comments were shared by the industry publication OnStage Blog, as The New York Times <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2026/08/02/arts/hadestown-geno-segers-transgender-departs.html">reported</a>, and originated on Segers’ YouTube page.
One clip shows Segers saying, “I’m not against anyone living out their lives the way they want, but I am against their rights superseding the rights of other people. That’s a little bit foul.”
“I don’t see transgender people becoming oppressed or being oppressed,” he continued.
The actor also railed against preferred pronouns, saying, “If you asked me what my preferred pronouns are and it’s not obvious to you that I’m a he/him, that I’m good with he/him, surely you don’t need any help. I’m not wearing a dress.”
As so many have done before, Segers has now issued a groveling apology for holding non-approved opinions about transgenderism.
“I wish to extend my most sincere apologies to everyone impacted by my words,” Segers wrote in a <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/Dbl74QpCBTT/">statement</a>. “While I never intended to inflict harm, I recognize that the impact of my statements is what matters most.”
“I am fully committed to listening, educating myself, and elevating my standards. I will work tirelessly to earn the opportunity to make things right.”
Segers went on to apologize to everyone involved in “Hadestown,” writing that he was sorry “for the stress my actions have brought to this production.&#8221; He added, &#8220;I accept full responsibility for my words and acknowledge the necessity of immediate accountability.&#8221;
The actor concluded his statement by saying, “I extend my wholehearted support to the cast, crew, and my replacement. I wish you all tremendous success during your run. I have complete confidence that each of you will be phenomenal.”

Geno Segers

Broadway Actor Loses Lead Role After Transgender Comments Resurface

Broadway

Cancel Culture

Entertainment

New York City

Pronouns

Planned Parenthood said abortion is “gender-affirming care” Monday in a social media <a href="https://www.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=1520913796730044&amp;id=100064343153415&amp;mibextid=wwXIfr&amp;rdid=Ks4OHdKbNQDnRSRv">post</a> declaring that “reproductive freedom means every person gets to decide what’s right for their own body. No exceptions.”
The abortion giant made the claim less than one month after Planned Parenthood&#8217;s federal funding resumed and as the organization has <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/planned-parenthood-cashes-in-thanks-to-gender-confusion?author=Leif+Le+Mahieu&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=undefined&amp;row=0&amp;rowType=Vertical+List&amp;title=Planned+Parenthood+Cashes+In+Thanks+To+Gender+Confusion">increasingly cashed</a> in on expanding transgender procedures for minors. 
<div class="image"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-1149433" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/08/Screenshot-2026-08-03-at-11.12.16-AM.png" alt="" width="1040" height="975" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/08/Screenshot-2026-08-03-at-11.12.16-AM.png 1040w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/08/Screenshot-2026-08-03-at-11.12.16-AM-300x281.png 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/08/Screenshot-2026-08-03-at-11.12.16-AM-614x576.png 614w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/08/Screenshot-2026-08-03-at-11.12.16-AM-768x720.png 768w" sizes=" (max-width: 1040px) 100vw, 1040px" /></div>
“Gender-affirming” services <a href="https://www.plannedparenthood.org/get-care/our-services/gender-affirming-care">offered</a> by Planned Parenthood include estrogen for males, testosterone for females, puberty blockers, and transgender surgery referrals. These services have spiked in recent years across the country. 
A <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/planned-parenthood-cashes-in-thanks-to-gender-confusion?author=Leif+Le+Mahieu&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=undefined&amp;row=0&amp;rowType=Vertical+List&amp;title=Planned+Parenthood+Cashes+In+Thanks+To+Gender+Confusion">recent report</a> from Concerned Women for America Legislative Action found a 40% increase in so-called “gender-affirming care” services at 14 of Planned Parenthood’s biggest affiliates from 2024 to 2025. 
Annual reports showed that Planned Parenthood Great Northwest, Hawaii, Alaska, Indiana, and Kentucky reported 24,295 “gender-affirming care” services in <a href="https://www.plannedparenthood.org/uploads/filer_public/c8/70/c870cd3f-101d-4519-9879-55a846074a86/2025_impact_report_digital_1.pdf">2025</a>, up from 13,432 in <a href="https://www.plannedparenthood.org/uploads/filer_public/50/98/5098af46-fcfb-4c40-b682-ecdc002906c5/2024_impact_report_digital.pdf">2024</a>. Planned Parenthood of Greater Ohio reported 8,644 transgender services in 2025, up from 6,206 in 2024. 
At Planned Parenthood’s Pasadena affiliate, the number of transgender-related visits increased from 1,544 in 2024 to 2,346 in 2025. In its annual report, the group <a href="https://www.plannedparenthood.org/uploads/filer_public/b4/79/b479a34c-032b-4944-a914-432b5d7a720f/2026_pppsgv_ar_option_digital.pdf">said</a> that it supported legislation in California “extending statewide protections for gender-affirming care to people of all ages.”
At the same time, Planned Parenthood recorded 434,450 abortions in fiscal year 2025, up 8% from the previous year and 34% since 2014. That comes as Planned Parenthood has pushed for more abortions via pill. 
The post came less than a month after Planned Parenthood regained the ability to bill Medicaid for non-abortion services following the expiration of provisions in the One Big Beautiful Bill. The defunding contributed to the closure of roughly 50 Planned Parenthood facilities. Although funding resumed, several smaller affiliates have continued closing clinics. 
Planned Parenthood of Michigan recently said that it was closing down three facilities in the state because of federal government cuts. It reported a $4.2 million decline in procedure reimbursements in fiscal year 2025. 
“The return of Medicaid reimbursement is welcome news for [Planned Parenthood Michigan] patients, and the organization will resume billing Medicaid in the coming days,” the organization <a href="https://www.plannedparenthood.org/planned-parenthood-michigan/newsroom/planned-parenthood-of-michigan-reshapes-health-care-network-in-response-to-federal-funding-losses">said</a>. “However, the restoration of billing does not recover nearly a year of lost revenue or eliminate ongoing threats to safety-net health care funding.”
Pro-life activists have continued to pressure Congress to get another provision passed to defund Planned Parenthood into the next funding package.

US-NEWS-HEALTH-KY-ABORTION-3-LX

Planned Parenthood Now Calls Abortion ‘Gender Affirming Care’

Abortion

pediatric gender medicine

Planned Parenthood

An ESPN commentator urged fans to listen to Minnesota Lynx head coach Cheryl Reeve’s pro-transgender comments, all while Reeve took to the court wearing a &#8220;Trans Kids Belong&#8221; shirt on Sunday.
During Sunday’s clash between the Lynx and the Indiana Fever, ESPN color analyst Rebecca Lobo didn&#8217;t hold back in hyping up the Minnesota coach&#8217;s political message.
&#8220;I would encourage anyone to go and listen to Cheryl Reeve&#8217;s comments; incredibly thoughtful, easy to find online. I would just encourage anyone to go and listen,&#8221; Lobo declared during the broadcast.
Play-by-play caller Ryan Ruocco pointed out that Reeve was sporting the pro-trans statement on her chest following a week of mounting tension. The wardrobe choice and broadcast plug came in the aftermath of comments made by Fever guard Sophie Cunningham, who ignited a league-wide culture war last month by speaking out against biological men competing in female athletics.
&#8220;I want to protect young girls in a locker room, or young girls in sport who shouldn&#8217;t have to go against biological men,&#8221; Cunningham told <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/wnba-star-breaks-with-league-on-explosive-issue">ESPN</a> in a profile, later defying online outrage with a blunt <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/sophie-cunningham-triples-down-on-haters-with-ice-cold-instagram-post">follow-up</a> on Instagram: &#8220;I said what I said.&#8221;
The two opposing figures met face-to-face at center court for a pre-game chat on Sunday. While the mid-court meeting appeared cordial, Reeve had spent Saturday taking direct aim at the rhetoric surrounding the debate.
&#8220;It is not the case that we have, quote, biological men in girls’ locker rooms, the way it’s being phrased, the innuendo there that somehow transgender women are predators of some kind in the locker room,&#8221; Reeve fired back to reporters, pushing for inclusion while claiming &#8220;exclusion is not the answer.&#8221;
The rift highlights a growing divide inside the WNBA. Cunningham’s fiery stance has drawn enthusiastic rallies of supporters outside arenas in Seattle, Portland, and Minneapolis. It has also earned her backing from high-profile figures like female sports advocate Riley Gaines and White House Press Secretary <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/karoline-leavitt-rips-leftist-backlash-to-sophie-cunninghams-trans-sports-comments">Karoline Leavitt</a>.
However, the debate has boiled over into ugly arena confrontations. During a recent Fever road trip to Seattle, Storm co-owner Celeste Keaton was reprimanded after reportedly launching an <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/wnba-co-owner-accused-of-cursing-out-teen-girls-over-xx-xy-shirts?author=Hank+Berrien&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=8&amp;row=0&amp;rowType=Vertical+List&amp;title=WNBA+Co-Owner+Accused+Of+Cursing+Out+Teen+Girls+Over+XX-XY+Shirts">expletive-laced tirade</a> against two 16-year-old female fans who were wearing gear in support of Cunningham&#8217;s position.
Meanwhile, Fever head coach Stephanie White <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/sophie-cunninghams-coach-asked-where-she-stands-on-men-in-womens-sports?author=Hank+Berrien&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=1&amp;row=0&amp;rowType=Vertical+List&amp;title=Sophie+Cunningham%E2%80%99s+Coach+Asked+Where+She+Stands+On+Men+In+Women%E2%80%99s+Sports">threw up her hands</a> when asked where she stands on the issue, offering a classic corporate dodge. White claimed she wasn&#8217;t &#8220;educated enough from a scientific standpoint&#8221; to say whether biological males belong in women&#8217;s sports.
While leadership equivocates and ESPN announcers point fans toward progressive talking points, Cunningham remains steadfast in her position, proving that the hottest court in basketball right now is the culture war.

Cheryl Reeve/Sophie Cunningham

ESPN Praises WNBA Coach After Trans Sports Jab At Sophie Cunningham

ESPN

Indiana Fever

Caitlin Clark, the Indiana Fever&#8217;s star guard and most well-known player in the WNBA, was asked Sunday to share her thoughts on men in women&#8217;s sports, a controversy that has erupted in the women&#8217;s basketball league following comments from Clark&#8217;s teammate Sophie Cunningham.
As Cunningham faces intense backlash from leftists over her comments on protecting women&#8217;s sports, Clark said the issue is not discussed in the Fever&#8217;s locker room.
&#8220;I think it&#8217;s for leagues and governing bodies to work with their athletes and find solutions, but our focus is on basketball. That&#8217;s what we talk about,&#8221; Clark said during her post-game press conference.
After her short answer, a reporter asked if she had any reaction to the controversy surrounding Cunningham.
&#8220;I just answered for you,&#8221; Clark replied.
Clark was pressed on the issue one day after Indiana Fever head coach Stephanie White <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/sophie-cunninghams-coach-asked-where-she-stands-on-men-in-womens-sports?topStoryPosition=undefined&amp;author=Hank+Berrien&amp;category=Sports&amp;elementPosition=0&amp;row=1&amp;rowHeadline=Top+Stories&amp;rowType=Top+Stories&amp;title=Sophie+Cunningham%E2%80%99s+Coach+Asked+Where+She+Stands+On+Men+In+Women%E2%80%99s+Sports">pushed back</a> on Cunningham&#8217;s remarks on keeping men out of women&#8217;s sports.
“I don’t know that I would say that I’m educated enough from a scientific standpoint. I don’t ever believe that exclusion is an answer. I just don’t,” White told reporters.
Cunningham sparked discussion on the issue last month during an interview for a profile piece that was published by ESPN. In the interview, Cunningham was asked where she stands on men in women&#8217;s sports, and she addressed the matter head-on.
“I think that I am here to extend love,” she <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/wnba-star-breaks-with-league-on-explosive-issue?author=Amanda+Prestigiacomo&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=6&amp;row=0&amp;rowType=Vertical+List&amp;title=WNBA+Star+Breaks+With+League+On+Explosive+Issue">said</a>. “But I also think with that love is truth, being honest. And I want to protect young girls in a locker room, or young girls in sport who shouldn’t have to go against biological men.”
Her comments resulted in a wave of support from many Americans, including the <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/karoline-leavitt-rips-leftist-backlash-to-sophie-cunninghams-trans-sports-comments">White House</a>, who oppose policies by schools, athletic associations, and professional leagues that allow men to compete against women. Cunningham&#8217;s comments were also met with backlash from many people on the Left, including WNBA players, coaches, and at least one team owner.
During a Fever game in Seattle last week, two young girls attended the game with XX-XY shirts and a sign supporting Cunningham and her defense of women-only sports. The young girls were <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/sophie-cunningham-rips-wnba-team-co-owner-for-harassing-teens-girls-with-xx-xy-shirts?author=Amanda+Prestigiacomo&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=undefined&amp;row=0&amp;rowType=Vertical+List&amp;title=Sophie+Cunningham+Rips+WNBA+Team+Co-Owner+For+Harassing+Teen+Girls+With+XX-XY+Shirts">heckled</a> by some Seattle fans and berated by Seattle Storm co-owner Celeste Keaton, who reportedly called the teenage girls &#8220;f*cking insane.&#8221; Keaton was reprimanded by the Storm and suspended from attending the team&#8217;s next five home games.
“Bravo to those girls for standing up for what they believe. You’ll be hearing from me soon,” Cunningham said. “Truly embarrassing of the co-owner. Unfortunately shows the type of leader she is.”
Clark is familiar with being on the receiving end of harsh backlash. Ever since she came into the league in 2024 — bringing a following of loyal fans from her success in college at Iowa — Clark has been public enemy No. 1 for many WNBA players. The WNBA&#8217;s hatred for Clark is evident even in the star player&#8217;s third season. Last month, when players placed votes for the WNBA All-Star Game, they determined Clark wasn’t even among the top 10 best guards, despite Clark putting up impressive numbers and setting league records, The Daily Wire previously <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/latest-stunt-shows-just-how-much-wnba-hates-star-player-caitlin-clark?author=Amanda+Prestigiacomo&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=undefined&amp;row=0&amp;rowType=Vertical+List&amp;title=Latest+Stunt+Shows+Just+How+Much+WNBA+Hates+Star+Player+Caitlin+Clark">reported</a>.
Clark has also brought unprecedented attention to the WNBA and helped drive record-breaking attendance, viewership, and merchandise sales.

Indiana Fever v Washington Mystics

WNBA Star Caitlin Clark Responds To Trans Sports Firestorm

Caitlin Clark

Menu