Saucy Santana is sharing his thoughts on the ongoing debate over transgender women competing in women's professional sports ... calling on the WNBA to make a decision.
We got the rapper in New York City and asked him about the possibility of trans women playing in the WNBA ... and he told us, "trans women are women."
We dug deeper and asked whether a trans woman should be allowed to play in the WNBA ... and Santana told us he believes that decision should ultimately be left to the league and its eligibility rules, which aren't clearly defined.
The WNBA is blasting "bad-faith efforts" to push a narrative about transgender women competing in the league ... after ex-NBA players Enes Kanter Freedom and Royce White claimed they're women and vowed to enter next year's WNBA Draft.
The WNBA held an anti-hate task force meeting Wednesday to discuss trans athletes ... and afterward, a league spokesperson said general managers and presidents came to the conclusion that there "are no immediate eligibility matters affecting the WNBA," adding ... "we strongly denounce the bad-faith efforts to use these topics to demean or marginalize others."
So, it sounds like Enes and Royce won't be entering the Draft after all.
The WNBA noted they will "continue to engage all league stakeholders in the coming weeks and months" and "will approach these important conversations thoughtfully and in alignment with the values of our league."
Former NFL sideline reporter Michele Tafoya is one step closer to a seat in the U.S. Senate after winning the Minnesota Republican primary on Tuesday ... dominating the other candidates -- which included WNBA hopeful Royce White.
The ex-NBC employee will now face off against Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan to replace retiring Senator Tina Smith, a Democrat.
The results weren't even close ... with Tafoya earning more than half the votes. Navy SEAL and Marine vet Adam Schwarze finished second.
Cheryl Miller isn't mincing words about Enes Kanter Freedom and Royce White ... and the women's basketball great isn't amused.
TMZ Sports caught up with the Hall of Famer at LAX on Tuesday, and she made it clear she's not wasting any energy on the pair's recent comments about the league.
"I'm not giving them, those two, in particular, a whole lot of thought, because there's outsiders looking to hijack our network," Miller said. "It's horrible energy. It's horrible energy."
Enes Kanter Freedom declared for the WNBA Draft, and now he says he's started to "transition" ... but it's not what you think.
The longtime hooper, shirtless and looking SHREDDED, posted video of a workout sesh, where the 6'10" center is ripping bicep curls ... alongside a caption and musical selection that'll drive his critics crazy.
Waiting for your permission to load the Twitter Tweet.
"Let 'The Transition' to the @WNBA begin," the 34-year-old wrote. "Rules Are Rules!"
DiJonai Carrington is revisiting her recent "white privilege" comment directed at the Indiana Fever ... claiming it wasn't about the flagrant foul she received against Sophie Cunningham that resulted in her ejection.
The Chicago Sky hooper went to X to respond to talking head Emmanuel Acho on Monday ... after he called her out on his "Speakeasy" show for seemingly chalking the foul up to racism.
Somebody needs to share this message to Dijonai Carrington.
"It was just very ignorant, and to some degree asinine, by DiJonai Carrington to suggest that that call was based on white privilege," Acho said ... adding she deserved to be ejected for the act.
Enes Kanter Freedom has officially submitted paperwork in hopes of entering the 2027 WNBA Draft ... claiming it's totally in bounds with the league's current rules.
The 34-year-old former NBA big man revealed the signed letter on Monday ... which states, "Please accept this formal document as my official written notification to the Women's National Basketball Association of my voluntary decision to enter the player pool for the 2027 WNBA Draft."
"Consistent with the current league collective bargaining agreement, I am submitting this notice to exercise my draft rights and to affirm that I am at least twenty-two years old and that I have no remaining intercollegiate eligibility, as required by Article XIII, Section 1(b)."
Sophie Cunningham and DiJonai Carrington just turned a heated WNBA matchup into a full-blown controversy ... with Carrington getting ejected after a hard hit on Cunningham, followed moments later by a social media post that appeared to take a shot at the Indiana Fever star.
During Saturday’s Fever-Sky game in Chicago, Carrington made contact with Cunningham’s head during a first-quarter play. Officials initially called a common foul ... but after a review, upgraded it to a Flagrant 2 and ejected Carrington.
Cunningham quickly got up, while teammate Makayla Timpson stepped between the two players, however the drama continued online. Shortly after the ejection, a post reading “WHITE PRIVILEGE” appeared on Carrington’s Threads account, tagging the Indiana Fever.
Royce White says he's testing out his new look before next year's WNBA draft ... throwing on a wig and embracing his "feminine era."
The former NBA player who announced he's throwing his hat in the ring for the 2027 WNBA draft shared the pic on X ... rocking the hair piece and a serious expression.
In his caption, Royce wrote he's glad the wig showed up on Saturday ... so he could "test it on the court" Sunday as his "feminine era" truly begins.
WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert is finally weighing in on the league's raging transgender athlete debate ... acknowledging the issue isn't going away -- and neither are the conversations about it.
Engelbert addressed the controversy in a memo sent to teams Friday and obtained by the AP ... saying she expects transgender participation in women's basketball to continue getting "significant attention."
The commish stopped short of taking a side ... but said the league will approach the issue thoughtfully and respectfully, while stressing "preserving the integrity of our game and ensuring fair competition" remain among its highest priorities.
Ex-NBA player Royce White has announced he's transgender and plans to declare for the 2027 WNBA Draft ... making him the second former pro to do so within a day.
EXCLUSIVE: Former NBA first-round pick Royce White says he's declaring for the 2027 WNBA Draft, claiming he now identifies as transgender for the purpose of playing professional basketball.
Check it out -- the former pro baller explained it loud and clear during a Friday interview with Fox News, saying ... "I’m transgender ... I identify as sometimes identifying as a woman for purposes of professional basketball, so I will be declaring for the WNBA draft in 2027 as well."
Royce played 3 official NBA games during the 2013-14 season with the Sacramento Kings and is currently a Republican candidate for U.S. Senate.
Ted Cruz says Caitlin Clark is under no obligation to jump into the transgender athlete debate ... but he was more than happy to take his shot -- including one aimed at TMZ DC.
Charlie got the Senator from Texas on Capitol Hill Tuesday and asked whether Caitlin should take a stand after Megyn Kelly called the WNBA star a "coward" for not picking sides after her teammate said young girls in sports shouldn't have to compete against biological men.
Cruz first praised Caitlin as "a hell of a ball player" ... then said athletes shouldn't be required to weigh in on every hot-button topic.
As for his own view, Cruz didn't hold back ... arguing it's unfair for transgender women to compete against biological women -- and challenging Charlie by asking whether it would be fair to let LeBron James play in the WNBA ... then asking if he knew the difference between boys and girls.
Shots fired between Megyn Kelly and Dave Portnoy ... they're locked in a social media scrap over Caitlin Clark's stance -- or lack thereof -- about transgender athletes in women's sports.
Here's the deal ... the WNBA superstar got feisty with a reporter who asked her thoughts on teammate Sophie Cunningham's controversial comments against "biological men" competing against young girls in sports. Basically, Caitlin gave a non-answer and, when pressed, told the reporter to kick rocks.
Megyn, the ultra-conservative media personality, blasted Caitlin as a "coward" for dodging the question ... and in rode Portnoy to defend CC ... saying, "Absolute moron/idiot to call Caitlin a coward for this answer. 1st of all, you don't even know how she feels on this issue and more importantly, she doesn't owe it to you or anybody else to be your political talking point."
Caitlin Clark is finally addressing her teammate Sophie Cunningham's controversial comments on trans athletes in women's sports ... and she's getting feisty with reporters.
Caitlin was asked about Sophie coming out against "biological men" competing against young girls in sports ... and the Indiana Fever star snapped at the journalist who dared to ask a follow-up to her non-answer.
Caitlin was asked about Sophie's stance after Sunday's 108-100 loss to the Minnesota Lynx ... she didn't pick sides, said it was above her pay-grade, claimed it wasn't a topic in the locker room and said she was only focused on winning WNBA games.
When the reporter pressed for more, Caitlin shut him down ... and you can feel the tension in video from their exchange.
Brittney Griner has filed for divorce from her wife, Cherelle -- the woman who stood by her when she was locked up in Russia -- after eight years of marriage.
The WNBA star filed the divorce petition Thursday ... and lists July 24 as the date of separation. She says their marriage is "irretrievably broken."
Brittney and Cherelle -- who share one child together -- tied the knot back in June of 2018 ... and remained together during the 10 months Brittney spent in a Russian prison.
Brittney Griner's wife seemed to have no idea a divorce was imminent ... or at least she was hiding the info well ... because she posted pics of their seemingly happy family weeks before the pair separated.
Cherelle Griner shared a bunch of pics and vids on July 1 for her 33rd birthday ... and the snaps are full of friends, fun and her fam -- including a photo where she held tightly to Brittney, their faces bunched together.
In a video, the two hold their son -- who was born in 2024 -- in front of a fish tank at an aquarium. Another clip shows the pair giggling as they do a skincare routine together.
