An Australian basketball association could approve the application of a transgender player to one of the top women’s leagues, and former Golden State Warriors Andrew Bogut has expressed his strong opposition to it.
Basketball Victoria confirmed on Monday the athlete applied to join the Kilysth Cobras in the NBL1 South women’s competition and announced it will establish a new assessment system for transgender and gender diverse players who want to participate.
“Basketball has long prided itself as ‘everyone’s game’ and this remains the case, especially at the community level,” said Basketball Victoria’s diversity manager, Sheena Atkin. “Recognizing that there is much to learn in this space, the new guidelines confirm the inclusion and safety of the LGBTQA+ community at all levels of basketball as a requirement.”
Bogut responded to the news with strong objections.
The word is @NBL1 The South Women will have a biological Male playing this upcoming season.
Are you ok to sacrifice the sanctity of Female Sport in the name of “inclusion”? #GirlDads Where are you?
A hashtag is trending until action is needed.
— Andrew Bogut (@andrewbogut) March 12, 2023
Its makes me sad that you are ok with Women’s sport and Women’s spaces taken by Men
I do not condone any abuse of the Kilsyth player, nor do I blame the player.
I blame the league/club admin and officials for allowing this.#SaveWomensSports https://t.co/0jm3zDHBLn
— Andrew Bogut (@andrewbogut) March 13, 2023
He has since posted a video on Instagram with additional comments.
Chloe Bibby, who plays in the NBL1, reacted to the chaos and had a positive message for the incoming player.
As someone who plays in NBL1 , I don’t care what they refer to or their pronouns, he/she, them/them, him because even if I’m not there try to beat their ass on the court. They want to play ball and I have nothing but the highest respect for this guy. Kill that queen! https://t.co/KwjEIb3E8y
— Chloe Bibby (@chloelbibby) March 13, 2023
Many men have an interest and opinion on this “rumor” in a “protective” way.
Where are they when we talk about equal pay, equal funding, equal rights in sport?
But now they want to “save” women’s sports?
Please…do you want to do that? Start with salary, funding and entitlements— Sam Squiers (@SamSquiers) March 13, 2023
Basketball Victoria is currently navigating the situation, while Basketball Australia released a statement condemning the “negative commentary and offensive language used on social media”.
More to come.