A number of political debates dominated conversations around the WNBA at different points during the 2026 season. And as a result, calls to shift the focus back to what was happening on the court became increasingly frequent, with some making that demand publicly. For Golden State Valkyries star Gabby Williams, however, the very existence of the WNBA, and simply being a female athlete, is inextricably tied to politics.
“I think as a female athlete, just our existence is political,” Williams said in an interview on CNBC Sport. “Being a female athlete just automatically becomes politicized because we’re in a space where maybe we weren’t welcome before.”
Fresh off winning the 2026 WNBA championship with the Valkyries, Williams spoke with CNBC’s Alex Sherman about the cultural and political debates surrounding the league. One of the major talking points was the controversy surrounding transgender athletes, a debate in which the Finals MVP found herself directly involved.
That controversy escalated when Indiana Fever guard Sophie Cunningham publicly expressed her opposition to transgender women competing in women’s sports. And among those on the opposing side was Williams, who had already made her support for transgender inclusion clear.
Williams had been vocal in her support well before Cunningham’s viral July ESPN profile sparked debate across the league. During a May 2026 shootaround in New York, she told reporter Jackie Powell that “trans rights is our new battle” and said she would welcome a transgender athlete on her team or against it at any time.
The same clip resurfaced in August, amid the broader league debate that followed Cunningham’s argument, which attracted considerable backlash, with protests and counterprotests surrounding the issue and fans making their feelings known through boos during games.
Williams, however, did not escape backlash either. As she revealed during the Valkyries’ end-of-season exit interviews in early November, her stance also drew a wave of criticism. According to her, the viral reaction led to online abuse, “plenty of death threats,” and real-world security concerns.
Still, Gabby Williams sees taking political stances as something athletes have always been part of, and she expects it to continue.
“I think it’s something that we embrace as athletes. I think that’ll continue,” she said.
Watching WNBA players lead social justice efforts like the Black Lives Matter movement while she was a student-athlete at UConn inspired her, and stepping into an activist and community-leader role was something she looked forward to before even joining the league.
“Realizing, oh, wow, these aren’t just basketball players. They’re leaders in our community. I was actually looking forward to that part of the W,” she said.
And she seems to have found the right environment to embrace that side of herself in Golden State.
“Being in Ballhalla allowed me to be myself,” Williams said. “As soon as I got there, I felt so welcomed. In the preseason game, I didn’t even play, and people were like screaming for me and welcoming me. And it just gives me a confidence that I think I can only get from Ballhalla.”
That support proved particularly meaningful during a season in which Williams had to navigate both the pressures of championship basketball and the personal consequences of her outspoken views. On the court, she played a central role in helping the Valkyries make history in just their second season of existence by becoming the fastest expansion team in WNBA history to win a championship. And her performance earned her the Finals Most Valuable Player award.
While the championship represented a major career milestone, Williams’ latest comments make it clear that her influence and ambitions extend beyond basketball.