A transgender athlete has applied to join an Australian women’s basketball league, and Andrew Bogut isn’t happy.
The player is set to compete in the NBL1 South women’s league with Basketball Victoria reportedly set to approve the move, according to News Corp.
The outlet confirmed that Kilsyth Cobras will welcome the transgender player into their team ahead of the 2023 season.
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Former NBA star Andrew Bogut took issue with the move and whipped up a barrage of tweets slamming the decision of the team.
Bogut tweeted: “Word is @NBL1 South Women will have a biological Male playing this upcoming season.
“Are you ok with sacrificing the sanctity of Female Sport in the name of ‘inclusion’? #GirlDads where are you?
“The hashtag is trendy until action is needed.”
Many of the replies to Bogut’s tweet echoed the same sentiment while others were furious over his stance.
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NBL star Anthony Drmic described the move as ‘wild’.
While former NBL player Matt Shanahan said it would open ‘a massive can of worms’ if the move was allowed.
One reply from author Saraid Taylor called the Australian’s comments ‘wildly irresponsible’ and asked the player if the replies made him ‘sad’.
Bogut responded to the tweet saying: “It makes me sad you are ok with Women's sport and Women’s spaces being taken over by Men
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“I don't condone any abuse to the Kilsyth player, nor do I blame the player.
“I blame the league/club admin and officials for allowing it.”
Taylor then responded wondering why Bogut only seemingly wanted to ‘save’ women’s sport after a transgender athlete joined the league.
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She tweeted: “Out of sincere curiosity, are you somebody who usually tries to help women’s sport? Tangibly — support, advocacy, investment? Or does women’s sport only exist when it provides you with the opportunity to further marginalise a vulnerable part of our community?”
Meanwhile, current BL1 player Chloe Bibby insisted she respected the individual in question and shut down any arguments over the debate.
“As someone who plays in the NBL1, I don’t care what they identify as or their pronouns, she/her, they/them, he/him because regardless I’m still gone try beat their ass on court,” Bibby tweeted.
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“They want to play ball & I have nothing but the upmost respect for this person. Go kill it queen.”
Bogut recently kicked off after signing up his six-year-old to play football in Australia.
Upon registering he came across the gender options which included the ‘non-binary’ option.
He shared the image with his followers and called out Football Australia - leading to another debate among his followers online.
Topics: Australia, Basketball
Jayden Collins