INDIANAPOLIS — Beleaguered Caitlin Clark, the former Iowa Hawkeye phenom, had to endure her Indiana Fever head coach Stephanie White bloviate through a press conference where she declared she is not “educated enough from a scientific standpoint” to answer whether biological males should be allowed to compete in women’s sports – and folks are scratching their heads in disbelief at how far society has fallen.
White, who coaches former University of Iowa basketball star Caitlin Clark, made the remarks during a recent media availability when asked about the national debate over transgender participation in women’s athletics.
“I’m not educated enough from a scientific standpoint,” White said when asked whether biological males should be permitted to compete in women’s sports.
White (pictured at top via @ClayTravis) also said she does not believe “exclusion is the answer.”
Those comments quickly ignited criticism from former NCAA swimmer and women’s sports advocate Riley Gaines.
“I don’t ever believe exclusion is the answer, I just don’t,” White said.
Gaines responded by arguing that athletic competition depends upon categories that necessarily exclude certain participants in order to preserve fairness.
“So does she think Olympians shouldn’t be excluded from Paralympics? Eighteen-year-olds shouldn’t be excluded from 12U? Heavyweights shouldn’t be excluded from featherweights?” Gaines wrote on social media.
“Categories exist solely to exclude.”
The debate centers on whether women’s athletic divisions should remain restricted to biological females or include transgender women who were born male.
Supporters of maintaining sex-based categories argue that women’s sports were created because male puberty generally produces lasting physical advantages in strength, speed, size and power. Opponents argue that transgender athletes should be included consistent with their gender identity under appropriate policies.
White’s comments also come as she continues coaching Caitlin Clark, whose treatment by opposing WNBA players has become one of the league’s biggest storylines.
Earlier this month, NorthIowaToday reported that Iowa Congressman Zach Nunn called on the WNBA to better protect Clark after a series of highly physical incidents in which she was hip-checked, poked in the eye, knocked to the floor and struck in the throat during games. Nunn argued the league owed greater protection to one of its biggest stars as Clark’s popularity continued driving attendance and television ratings.
White herself has previously criticized WNBA officiating, saying Clark has absorbed excessive physical play and that officials have not consistently protected players.
White’s remarks also stand in contrast to those of Fever teammate Sophie Cunningham, who recently said it is “common sense” that biological men should not compete in women’s sports.
“I want to protect young girls in a locker room, or young girls in sport who shouldn’t have to go against biological men,” Cunningham said, later adding that she stood by her comments while emphasizing she does not harbor animosity toward transgender people.
The Indiana Fever has stated that its players are adults with their own viewpoints and that those opinions do not necessarily represent the organization.
The issue remains one of the most contentious topics in sports, with governing bodies across the United States and internationally continuing to debate eligibility standards balancing inclusion, competitive fairness and safety.