Former NBA Players Enes Kanter and Royce White Say They Want to Play in the WNBA

Two former NBA players, Enes Kanter Freedom and Royce White, have announced plans to enter the 2027 WNBA draft, saying they identify as women. The statements, made late last week, have reignited debate over the inclusion of transgender athletes in women's sports.

Kanter Freedom, 34 and 6'10" (208 cm), spent 11 seasons in the NBA before retiring in 2022 and previously played for the Turkish national team. "If simply declaring who I am is enough, then I meet every requirement to play in the WNBA," he wrote on Instagram. He said he has no intention of "mocking, ridiculing or belittling" anyone's personal choices, but acknowledged that his appearance on the court would provoke a strong backlash.

Royce White, 35, who played just three NBA games and is currently running for the U.S. Senate as a Republican, said: "Sometimes I identify as a woman for the sake of basketball."

The Debate Began Last Summer

The controversy was sparked by a July interview on ESPN with 29-year-old Indiana Fever guard Sophie Cunningham. She said she supports protecting young female athletes, who should not have to compete against "biological men." She later reiterated her stance, adding that, as a matter of common sense, transgender athletes should be barred from women's competitions.

Cunningham's remarks drew protests — though relatively modest ones — while also earning support from several influential figures, including U.S. President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance. In March, the International Olympic Committee revised its own rules in a similar direction.

What the League Rules Say

Under the WNBA's collective bargaining agreement, only women are eligible to play in the league, with no further definition of the term. That is precisely the wording Kanter Freedom and White intend to rely on.

Some current players and coaches have voiced support for transgender athletes, including Seattle Storm center Stephanie Dolson and Minnesota Lynx coach Cheryl Reeve. "We have to protect transgender kids. To me, this is a human rights issue. Every child has the right to play sports," said Reeve, who coaches, among others, Czech players Eliška Jocklová and Ema Čechová.

The league's players' association issued a statement on social media Friday supporting diversity and inclusion, while stressing it has no intention of becoming a tool in political battles. According to the Associated Press, WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert sent a message to teams saying that league executives would discuss the issue in the coming days.

Source: sport.cz