WNBA Faces Eligibility Questions Over $100,000 All-Star Charity for Group Serving 3,059 Youths
Updated
Updated · Fox News · Jul 21
WNBA Faces Eligibility Questions Over $100,000 All-Star Charity for Group Serving 3,059 Youths
1 articles · Updated · Fox News · Jul 21
Summary
$100,000 in WNBA All-Star charity money is set to go to two Chicago-area groups, but beneficiary Girls in the Game says it is "moving beyond the binary of 'girl,'" creating questions about who can join its girl-centered sports programs.
The league framed the July 15 initiative as helping keep girls involved in sports, with Team Spoon playing for Girls in the Game and Team Coop for Angels Athletics; the winner gets $70,000 and the runner-up $30,000.
Girls in the Game's website says it welcomes LGBTQ+ and gender-expansive participants regardless of gender identity or expression, while its 2025 annual report also describes some activities as taking place in an "all-girl setting."
3,059 participants were served by Girls in the Game in FY25, including 921 in its Chicago After School program, but its public materials do not clearly state whether eligibility is based on biological sex, gender identity or another standard.
The WNBA, Girls in the Game and Angels Athletics did not respond to questions about participant eligibility, whether parents are told of the policy, or whether the All-Star funds are tied to specific programs.