WNBA commissioner says ‘haters’ trying to stir up debate about trans athletes and league

• Transgender woman has never played in the league

• Engelbert says league being used as political football'

The WNBA commissioner, Cathy Engelbert, has denounced people she said are trying to sow divisiveness" as the league grapples with a debate over transgender athletes.

Engelbert made the comments on Thursday before the Indiana Fever's loss to the Dallas Wings at the home of the Dallas Mavericks. Demonstrators showed up outside American Airlines Center, as they have at other venues since the Fever's Sophie Cunningham voiced support for barring transgender girls and women from girls' and women's sports.