The WNBA is facing fresh scrutiny over its transgender eligibility rules after league officials held talks on the issue but stopped short of announcing any changes.
A task force consisting of WNBA team presidents and general managers met on Wednesday to discuss a range of matters affecting the competition, including the participation of transgender athletes.
However, no new eligibility policy emerged from the meeting, with the league indicating that discussions are expected to continue over the coming weeks and months.
"There are no immediate eligibility matters affecting the WNBA," the league said in a statement.
It also criticised what it called "bad-faith efforts" to use the debate to "demean or marginalize others."
The issue has become an increasingly prominent talking point around women's basketball, with Indiana Fever guard Sophie Cunningham among those to have publicly called for women's sport and changing rooms to be reserved for biological females.
"When it comes just to protecting young girls in sport and women in sport, I feel strongly about that," Cunningham said in July.
There are contrasting opinions within the WNBA.
Minnesota Lynx head coach Cheryl Reeve has argued that participation in sport should be viewed as a human rights issue and expressed support for transgender and gender-diverse children being able to compete.
"Every kid has a right to sports," Reeve said earlier this month.
Seattle Storm centre Stefanie Dolson has also publicly backed the inclusion of transgender athletes.
Pressure for greater clarity has also come from figures outside the league.
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Jennifer Sey, founder and chief executive of XX-XY Athletics, a company which campaigns for protections in women's sport, questioned why the WNBA was "digging their heels in" over the issue.
Meanwhile, former NBA players Royce White and Enes Kanter Freedom have said they intend to declare for the WNBA Draft in what they describe as an attempt to highlight a potential loophole in the competition's eligibility regulations.
"Next spring I'm going to take my talents and join the WNBA," Freedom said during a recent appearance alongside Auburn basketball coach Bruce Pearl.
Sports commentator Stephen A. Smith has also criticised the league's handling of the controversy, arguing that a lack of clarity has allowed the subject to become increasingly politicised.
"Sure, the Right is maneuvering its way through the terrain and politicising this issue," Smith said.
"It doesn't negate the fact that the WNBA left the door open for it to happen."
Despite the growing debate, the issue remains hypothetical at WNBA level for the time being.
The league maintains that it is not currently dealing with an immediate eligibility case involving a transgender athlete.
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