WNBA rules Enes Kanter Freedom and Royce White ineligible for 2027 draft

Former NBA players Enes Kanter Freedom and Royce White have been ruled ineligible for the 2027 WNBA Draft, according to league sources. Both athletes had previously announced intentions to identify as transgender women and pursue entry into the league.

Sources familiar with the decision characterized the moves as “manufactured controversy” and “publicity-driven attempts to provoke controversy.” The league reportedly intends to avoid giving attention to efforts perceived as attempts to mock the WNBA or marginalize others. While the WNBA collective bargaining agreement states that “only players who are women are eligible to play,” the league currently lacks a specific, publicly available policy regarding transgender or intersex athletes.

The ruling follows a recent incident at a game between the Chicago Sky and the Indiana Fever, where Enes Kanter Freedom was escorted from the Wintrust Arena following a verbal confrontation with player Natasha Cloud. Kanter Freedom had been wearing a shirt regarding gender identity and stated his actions were in support of women's rights.