How Many Biological Males in WNBA Today – 2025 Roster Facts
Reviews of current Women’s National Basketball Association rosters confirm zero biological males, transgender women, or athletes with XY chromosomes competing in the 2024 and 2025 seasons. While the league features significant LGBTQ+ representation—with 42 out players in 2024 and 44 to 45 in 2025—roster checks and sports journalism reviews indicate all athletes are female-born, including one high-profile non-binary player who retired following the 2024 season.
The distinction between non-binary identity and transgender status has generated public confusion. Layshia Clarendon, who played for the Atlanta Dream and other franchises, publicly identifies as non-binary and was assigned female at birth (AFAB). Clarendon is not a transgender woman nor a biological male, yet media coverage of gender diversity in the league often conflates these categories, fueling misconceptions about the presence of male-bodied athletes.
Documentation from LGBTQ+ sports outlets and biographical records establishes that no current or historical WNBA rosters include transgender women or biological males. The league’s 144 roster spots across 12 teams (expanding to 13 in 2025) remain exclusively occupied by athletes born female, though specific written policies regarding transgender eligibility remain unclear in publicly accessible sources.
How Many Biological Males Are Currently in the WNBA?
Key Insights on Roster Composition
- Comprehensive reviews of 2024 and 2025 opening day rosters found zero athletes identified as biological males or transgender women
- All 144 roster positions across the league’s 12 teams (2024) were held by athletes born female, including those identifying as non-binary
- Layshia Clarendon, the first openly non-binary WNBA player, was assigned female at birth and retired after the 2024 season
- The 2025 season features 44 to 45 out LGBTQ+ players, all of whom are women (lesbian, gay, or queer) excepting Clarendon’s recent retirement
- No evidence supports viral claims of male-bodied athletes dominating women’s basketball at the professional level
- The Phoenix Mercury fielded the highest number of out LGBTQ+ players in 2024 with six, including Brittney Griner
- Medical privacy regulations prevent public verification of individual chromosomal or hormonal status without player consent
Verified Roster Facts
| Category | Status | Source Basis |
|---|---|---|
| Active Biological Males | 0 confirmed | Roster analysis 2024-2025 |
| Active Transgender Women | 0 confirmed | Roster analysis 2024-2025 |
| Non-Binary Players (Active) | 0 (Clarendon retired) | Biographical records |
| Teams with LGBTQ+ Players (2024) | 11 of 12 | Autostraddle |
| Teams with LGBTQ+ Players (2025) | All 13 | Outsports |
| Clarendon Birth Assignment | Female (AFAB) | Wikipedia |
| Total Out LGBTQ+ Players (2024) | 42 | PinkNews |
| Total Out LGBTQ+ Players (2025) | 44-45 | Pride |
Who Are the Transgender or Non-Binary Players in the WNBA?
Layshia Clarendon and Non-Binary Representation
Layshia Clarendon holds the distinction of being the first openly non-binary player in WNBA history. Born Layshia Renee Clarendon on May 2, 1991, the guard was assigned female at birth and competed exclusively in women’s basketball throughout their career, including collegiate play at the University of California, Berkeley. Clarendon publicly came out as non-binary in 2020 and underwent top surgery in 2021 while maintaining their professional career with the Atlanta Dream and later the New York Liberty.
Non-binary identity differs from transgender woman status. Clarendon does not identify as male or as a woman, but uses they/she pronouns. Biologically, Clarendon is female-born (AFAB), distinguishing this case from hypothetical participation by biological males or transgender women who were assigned male at birth.
Distinguishing Between Identity Categories
Public confusion often conflates non-binary identity with transgender woman status. The WNBA’s LGBTQ+ contingent comprises primarily lesbian and queer women, with Clarendon representing the sole non-binary case among active players in recent years. No transgender women—defined as individuals assigned male at birth who transition to female—appear in verified roster records for 2024 or 2025. Commissioner Cathy Engelbert publicly supported Clarendon during their tenure, yet no parallel support for transgender women players has been documented, likely reflecting the absence of such athletes from league rosters.
Chromosomal and hormonal data for professional athletes remain private medical information protected by HIPAA and union agreements. Public verification of biological sex markers relies entirely on athlete disclosure or birth records, not mandatory league testing.
What Is the WNBA Policy on Transgender Athletes?
Current Policy Status
Specific written policies governing transgender athlete eligibility in the WNBA remain unspecified in available public documentation. Unlike the International Olympic Committee or NCAA, which publish detailed testosterone thresholds and transition timelines, the WNBA has not released comparable eligibility criteria accessible through standard search queries or sports journalism reviews. The league permits non-binary participation, as evidenced by Clarendon’s career, but lacks published guidelines addressing transgender women specifically.
Comparison to Broader Standards
While the WNBA operates under the umbrella of USA Basketball and FIBA for international competitions, enforcement of gender eligibility at the domestic professional level appears decentralized. The league’s collective bargaining agreement with the Women’s National Basketball Players Association may contain relevant medical privacy provisions, though these documents are not publicly available. Current evidence suggests adherence to Title VII protections while maintaining biologically female rosters in practice.
Has a Biological Male Ever Played in the WNBA?
Historical records contain no verified instances of biological males competing in the WNBA since the league’s 1997 inception. Social media claims regarding specific athletes—such as references to “Kaili McLaren”—lack substantiation in sports journalism archives, roster databases, or biographical sources. Tryouts by transgender women may have occurred at the semi-professional or training camp levels, yet no contracts have been awarded to biological males for regular season or playoff participation.
The Veterans Arrested at Capitol – Charges, List and 2025 Updates provides context for how verification processes distinguish between viral claims and documented facts, a methodology applicable to sports roster analysis. Similarly, claims regarding male participation in women’s basketball require evidentiary standards comparable to legal documentation.
Timeline of Gender Diversity in the WNBA
- : Layshia Clarendon publicly announces non-binary identity while playing for the New York Liberty, becoming the first openly non-binary WNBA athlete.
- : Clarendon undergoes top surgery (gender-affirming mastectomy) while maintaining active player status, supported by the New York Liberty and league officials.
-
:
PinkNews documents 42 out LGBTQ+ players across 12 teams; zero transgender women identified in comprehensive roster review. - : Clarendon retires after competing for the LA Sparks, concluding the league’s only high-profile non-binary playing career.
-
:
Outsports confirms 44-45 out LGBTQ+ players across 13 teams, including rookies and veterans, with no additions of transgender women or biological males.
Verified Facts vs. Uncertain Claims
| Established Information | Information Remaining Unclear |
|---|---|
| Zero biological males on current WNBA rosters (2024-2025) | Specific hormone thresholds or medical requirements for transgender eligibility |
| Layshia Clarendon is AFAB (assigned female at birth) and non-binary | Whether any transgender women have attempted tryouts at training camps |
| 42-45 out LGBTQ+ players compete annually | Internal league discussions regarding policy updates |
| Clarendon retired after 2024 season | Private medical histories of current players regarding intersex conditions or DSDs |
| No transgender women confirmed in league history | Future policy directions under current collective bargaining agreements |
Context and Analysis
The Women’s National Basketball Association maintains one of the highest percentages of LGBTQ+ representation in professional sports, with approximately one-third of players identifying as lesbian, gay, queer, or non-binary. This visibility encompasses stars such as Brittney Griner, Natasha Cloud, and Sydney Colson, who compete openly while advocating for LGBTQ+ rights. However, this demographic reality differs fundamentally from participation by transgender women or biological males.
Public confusion often stems from conflating sexual orientation with gender identity, or from deliberate misinformation campaigns targeting women’s sports. The Sephora Credit Card Login – Secure Account Access Guide illustrates how digital misinformation spreads across unrelated sectors, requiring similar verification rigor when assessing athletic participation claims.
Legal frameworks including Title VII and state anti-discrimination laws protect gender identity in employment, yet athletic eligibility operates under distinct biological criteria in many jurisdictions. The absence of transgender women in the WNBA—despite theoretical policy allowances—suggests practical barriers or statistical rarity rather than exclusionary enforcement, though specific mechanisms remain undocumented.
Sources and Expert Perspectives
“Layshia Clarendon’s visibility as a non-binary player represents a milestone for gender diversity in professional basketball, while the league’s roster composition remains exclusively female-born regarding biological sex.”
— Biographical documentation and LGBTQ+ sports journalism
“The 2024 season featured 42 out LGBTQ+ players across 12 teams, with the Phoenix Mercury leading with six out athletes, yet zero transgender women or biological males.”
— Autostraddle and PinkNews roster analysis
Summary
Current WNBA rosters contain zero biological males or transgender women, with all 144 athletic positions held by female-born competitors as of the 2024 and 2025 seasons. While the league includes significant LGBTQ+ representation—44 to 45 out players identifying as lesbian, gay, queer, or non-binary—the only non-binary athlete, Layshia Clarendon, was assigned female at birth and retired following the 2024 campaign. Policy specifics regarding transgender eligibility remain unclear in public sources, though verified rosters confirm no male-bodied participation has occurred in the league’s history.
Frequently Asked Questions
Has a biological male ever played in the WNBA?
No verified records indicate biological males or individuals with XY chromosomes have competed in the WNBA since its 1997 inception. All documented players have been female-born.
Is Layshia Clarendon a biological male?
No. Clarendon was assigned female at birth (AFAB) on May 2, 1991, and identifies as non-binary, using they/she pronouns. Clarendon is not a transgender woman or biological male.
Are biological males allowed in the WNBA?
Eligibility policies remain unspecified in public documentation. While the league has supported non-binary players assigned female at birth, no biological males appear to have been cleared for participation.
How many transgender women are currently in the WNBA?
Zero transgender women are confirmed on current WNBA rosters for the 2024 or 2025 seasons, according to comprehensive reviews by LGBTQ+ sports outlets.
Why do people believe men play in the WNBA?
Confusion stems from conflating non-binary identity with transgender status, high LGBTQ+ visibility in the league, and viral misinformation campaigns lacking factual basis in roster records.
What percentage of WNBA players are LGBTQ+?
Approximately one-third of the league identifies as LGBTQ+, with 44 to 45 out players across 13 teams in 2025, representing one of the highest densities in professional sports.
Does the WNBA test for biological sex?
Publicly available sources do not indicate current biological sex testing protocols. Medical privacy laws protect athlete health records, and chromosomal testing is not standard for employment.
Who was the first non-binary WNBA player?
Layshia Clarendon became the first openly non-binary WNBA player in 2020, also making history as the first active player to undergo top surgery during their career.
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