NBL1 player Chloe Bibby responds to uproar over transgender move

An uproar over a transgender player potentially joining the NBL1 competition has been dismissed out of hand by player Chloe Bibby, after commentary from former NBA player Andrew Bogut sparked a major controversy. Bibby, who played for the WNBL's Perth Lynx last season, said she had no reservations about playing against transgender opponents, and is confident in Basketball Victoria's case by case basis for assessing the suitability of players.

A furore was provoked on social media when Bogut called for 'action' after revealing that the transgender player was planning on joining the NBL1 league. Several other male players weighed in on the commentary, which garnered support from the likes of NBL players Matt Shanahan and Anthony Drmic.

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Bibby, who will represent the Frankston Blues in the upcoming NBL1 season, was encouraging of the player, saying she was equally committed to outplaying opponents of all backgrounds. “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,” she wrote on Twitter.

“They want to play ball & I have nothing but the upmost respect for this person. Go kill it queen.”

Her comments came after Bogut initially drew attention to the issue, weeks after the former Golden State Warriors centre was criticised for 'overreacting' to a Football Australia online form for junior players which presented options for gender fluid and transgender competitors on a drop-down menu.

Former NBL player Shanahan, now the coach of Victorian Metro Under 18 team, was critical of the move to approve the player. He and several others involved themselves in the discussion under the use of the hashtag 'girldad'.

“I’m a girl dad who has a 16-year-old daughter in an NBL 1 South squad who has been asked if she would be comfortable with this,” Shanahan wrote. “Opening a massive can of worms if this is allowed.”

Basketball Victoria confident in process for gender diverse players

Basketball Victoria, in partnership with national counterpart Basketball Australia, have developed a series of guidelines for trans and gender diverse athletes, particularly with senior competitive leagues like the NBL1 and Country Basketball League front of mind. Basketball and medical experts, as well as relevant members of the community convene on a case-by-case basis to make the most appropriate decision in the interests of competitive fairness and inclusivity.

Basketball Victoria diversity and inclusion manager Sheena Atkins said the organisation would continue to work to best meet the needs of all participants. She said the guidelines in place were appropriate

“Basketball has long prided itself as “Everyone’s Game” and this remains the case, particularly at the ‘Community’ level," she said. "We recognise there is still much to learn in this space, the new guidelines confirm the inclusion and safety of the LGBITQA+ community into all levels of basketball being an imperative.”

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