Former NBA Player Enes Kanter Freedom Declares for 2027 WNBA Draft

Former NBA center Enes Kanter Freedom has declared for the 2027 WNBA Draft, saying he wants the league to apply its eligibility rules equally as debate continues over transgender athletes in women's sports.

The Declaration: Freedom, who played 11 NBA seasons before the Houston Rockets waived him in February 2022, announced his plans in a video posted on social media.

"After careful consideration and reviewing the current eligibility guidelines, I'm officially declaring myself a @WNBA prospect. If simply declaring who you are is all that's required, then I meet every single requirement necessary to compete in the WNBA," Freedom said on X.

Freedom added that he was "definitely not here to mock, make fun of, or disrespect any community or personal choices." He said his team had reviewed the WNBA's eligibility criteria and rules regarding self-identification and inclusion.

What the Rules Say: The WNBA's collective bargaining agreement states that "only players who are women are eligible to play in the WNBA." The CBA does not define "women" or specifically address transgender athletes. Freedom's announcement comes after Indiana Fever guard Sophie Cunningham said she opposes transgender women competing in the WNBA. Several WNBA players and coaches have said they would welcome transgender athletes, according to Yahoo Sports.

The Response: NewsNation (Center) reported that the Women's National Basketball Players Association issued a response following Freedom's announcement. The union said it supports "justice, equity, diversity and inclusion" while protecting women's sports.

"Hate, abuse, and demonization of any person or group of people, including transgender people, only fuel fear, division, and harm," the union said. "We will continue to have hard conversations. But we will not be used as political pawns."

Mostly Right and Center Coverage: Media coverage of Freedom's announcement appears to have largely come from center- and right-leaning outlets, although Yahoo News (Lean Left) also covered the story through Yahoo Sports. CNN (Lean Left bias) took a different approach, focusing on Indiana Fever guard Sophie Cunningham and the broader political debate surrounding her team. Its coverage examined political activism at WNBA games, including a Seattle Storm co-owner's suspension after confronting teens wearing anti-trans messages, and how debates involving Cunningham and Caitlin Clark have expanded into broader disputes over gender, race and women's sports. 

Written by the AllSides staff (of humans). Learn more. Support our mission.