Trump’s 2022 Comments on Recruiting LeBron James to Women’s Basketball Resurface Amid WNBA Transgender Athlete Controversy

The WNBA finds itself at the center of a contentious debate following Indiana Fever guard Sophie Cunningham’s public statements opposing competition between cisgender women and transgender athletes. Her remarks have ignited sharp disagreements among coaches, sports commentators and media figures, with some arguing for inclusivity in athletics while others have criticized Cunningham’s position as discriminatory.

During a July 2022 speech at the America First Policy Institute, President Donald Trump made lighthearted remarks about his hypothetical coaching abilities in women’s basketball. Trump stated he would recruit LeBron James to his team, joking that he would ask James whether he had “any desire to be a woman” to play for what Trump claimed would be an undefeated roster.

The decade-old clip circulated anew on social media Tuesday night as the Fever prepared for a Wednesday matchup against the New York Liberty. The timing coincided with intensifying discussions around Cunningham’s ESPN feature comments, which have become a rallying point for women’s sports advocates.

Cunningham has remained steadfast in her position, reiterating her stance on July 22 that protecting female athletes, particularly children, represents common sense. Women’s sports activists have organized demonstrations outside arenas supporting her, though counter-protesters have also appeared at recent events, including ahead of the Fever’s loss to the Minnesota Lynx on Sunday.