A man competing in France’s women’s basketball league has sparked intense debate over the WNBA’s policies regarding transgender athletes. Julie Tétart, a six-foot-three male player, dominated the Ligue Féminine 2—the second-highest tier of professional women’s basketball in France—during the 2025–26 season by averaging 21 points and 20 rebounds per game while shooting nearly 61% from the field.
Tétart shattered league records by becoming the first player to grab 30 rebounds in a single game, recording at least 20 rebounds in 12 separate contests. Consequently, Tétart swept BeBasket’s annual awards, earning Player of the Year, Defensive Player of the Year, and French Player of the Year honors.
When asked by Outkick about a potential WNBA career, Tétart expressed that while it would be a childhood dream, practical limitations like age make it unlikely, though he would not turn down an offer. Despite this, Tétart is not currently considered a WNBA prospect.
The situation drew sharp criticism and satire from commentators like Outkick founder Clay Travis, who mocked the league’s inclusivity stance on social media. Meanwhile, the broader controversy intensified within the WNBA following comments from Indiana Fever guard Sophie Cunningham, who publicly opposed the inclusion of biological males in female sports.
Emphasizing her commitment to protecting women and young girls, Cunningham stood firmly by her moral stance despite subsequent counter-signaling from various league figures, coaches, and players who promoted the inclusion of males in women’s athletics.
WHIO IS JULIE TETART
Julie Tétart is a 34-year-old French transgender basketball player and 6-foot-3 center for Monaco Basket Association in Ligue Féminine 2 (France’s second-tier women’s league). She publicly came out as transgender in October 2021 after playing men’s basketball for over two decades.
During the 2025–26 season, Tétart delivered a historic campaign, averaging 21 points and 20.2 rebounds per game, leading the league in both categories and setting a single-game rebounding record with 30 rebounds. She was named Player of the Year, Defensive Player of the Year, and Domestic Player of the Year, though her exclusion from the MVP award sparked controversy and allegations of bias from advocacy groups.
Tétart has stated that playing in the WNBA is a childhood dream but acknowledged significant hurdles, citing her age and the political climate in the United States under the Trump administration. Despite these reservations, she confirmed to OutKick that if a WNBA team contacted her, she “won’t say no.” Her prominence has intensified the global debate on transgender athlete participation in women’s sports, particularly following comments by WNBA player Sophie Cunningham regarding sex-based categories.
