Martina Navratilova and Aryna Sabalenka were lauded as ‘greats’ by a prominent Queer influencer after he came under fire for a controversial take on women who object to the presence of transgender athletes in women’s sports. Navratilova herself, who is firmly against the participation of transgender athletes in women’s sports, later questioned the influencer’s stance amid the ongoing trans-athlete row in the WNBA.
Indiana Fever star Sophie Cunningham’s comments on banning transgender athletes from the entire women’s sports space stirred a controversy that is still ongoing. Navratilova has repeatedly sided with Cunningham and defended her from critics and those who believe that transgender athletes should be allowed to compete with biological women.
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Amid the ongoing row, Queer influencer Michael Buckley posted an Instagram Story with the following caption in the aftermath of his meeting with celebrated gymnast Simone Biles at the WNBA game between Indiana Fever and Connecticut Sun.
“I said to Simone last night, “notice it’s always the mediocre white women who are complaining about trans athletes and never the black women who are historically the best athletes”. We were FIRED UP.”
Subsequently, Jennifer Sey, the founder and CEO of athletic apparel brand XX-XY Athletics, which advocates for biological sex distinctions in athletics and the protection of women’s sports, criticized Buckley on X (formerly Twitter). Sey wondered if Buckley would describe tennis legend Martina Navratilova and current World No. 1 women’s tennis player Aryna Sabalenka as ‘mediocre white women’. Both Navratilova and Sabalenka have spoken up about protecting women’s sports.
“I’m wondering if @HeyBuckHey would call @Martina a mediocre white woman? Or @SabalenkaA ? Both support protecting women’s sports with testing for sex. Martina one of the best women’s tennis players ever. Of all time. Aryna ranked No.1 right now. Will go down as one of the best ever,” Sey wrote.
Buckley soon responded to Sey, claiming that the X post by the XX-XY Athletics founder and CEO was an attempt to ‘rile up’ her followers against him. He also laid bare his respect for Navratilova and Sabalenka, writing:
“I was being sassy but yes let’s get your followers riled up about this some more. Nothing but respect to Martina and Aryna. Two of the GREATS indeed!”
Martina Navratilova took notice of Sey and Buckley’s exchange and weighed in with a question of her own, which was aimed at the Queer influencer.
“But you will still not believe us and respect us when we say female sports are for females only. Why is that?” Martina Navratilova asked.
Martina Navratilova & Aryna Sabalenka have both come out in support of WTA’s controversial new sex-screening policy
In July this year, the WTA announced a new one-time sex-screening policy for all female tennis players under its purview. The announcement led to significant controversy, drawing criticism from those who support transgender athletes competing in women’s sports. However, Martina Navratilova gave the policy her wholehearted support, calling it ‘a step in the right direction’.
Meanwhile, Aryna Sabalenka was asked to share her thoughts on the policy during a press conference at the 2026 Canadian Open. Here, the reigning World No. 1 Belarusian and four-time major champion said:
“I think it’s really important to keep the fairness in our tour. It’s obviously, biologically, the men are way stronger than women, so I feel like it would be not really fair for the woman to compete against biological man. I believe it took them a little while to make this decision and, yeah, I support it.”
Sabalenka is currently participating at the 2026 US Open, where she secured her progress to the second round of women’s singles matches with a relatively straightforward first-round win over Camila Osorio.
Edited by Sudipto Pati