WNBA All-Star charity initiative supports sports group that says it is ‘moving beyond the binary of girl’
The WNBA is celebrating its 30th season with a new All-Star charity initiative, but questions have emerged regarding one of the participating organizations. As part of a $100,000 prize pool, teams are playing on behalf of specific Chicago-area charities. One of the selected beneficiaries, Girls in the Game, publicly states on its website that it is moving beyond the binary of girl and welcomes participants regardless of gender identity or expression.
This language stands in contrast to the league's stated goal for the initiative, which the WNBA describes as keeping girls involved in sports. While the league frames the project as a way to support girls' athletics, the organization's own public-facing materials explicitly state that it works with gender-expansive participants. This shift in terminology has prompted observers to ask for clarification on the eligibility requirements for the group's programs.
OutKick/Fox News Digital reviewed the organization's mission and found resources that point toward gender-affirming services and support for non-binary and trans individuals. Despite the group's emphasis on all-girl settings in its annual reports, the inclusion of language regarding the movement beyond binary definitions suggests a broader scope for its participants. The organization did not respond to requests for comment regarding its specific eligibility standards or whether biological males are permitted to join its sports programs.
Critics of the initiative argue that the league should be transparent about which populations it is funding through these high-profile charity events. The WNBA has not issued a response regarding whether it reviewed the policies of these charities before selecting them for the All-Star prize pool. With the league aiming to promote sports participation, observers state that it is necessary to define what the league means when it uses the term girl in its public messaging.
As the WNBA moves forward with its milestone season, the situation highlights the tension between stated organizational goals and the specific policies of affiliated non-profits. The lack of response from both the league and the charity leaves open questions about the criteria used to determine program enrollment and support.