The conversation surrounding transgender athletes in sports is heating up again. It has taken the WNBA world by storm, and now Enes Kanter-Freedom has involved himself.
Sophie Cunningham spoke about wanting to protect women’s sports, and it has unleashed an intense debate. The biggest current topic in the WNBA world is whether trans athletes should be allowed to play.
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Opposing views have been shared. Lynx coach Cheryl Reeve and Valkyries coach Natalie Nakase spoke out in support of inclusivity. They’ve been called out by various prominent figures, including Stephen A. Smith.
And now former NBA star Enes Kanter Freedom has decided to get involved, too. Except he’s doing it in a much more direct manner than anyone else.
Photo by Maddie Malhotra/Getty Images
Enes Kanter Freedom says he’s eligible for the 2027 WNBA Draft based on current guidelines
It seems like the W is going to have to deal with this issue on a policy level at this point. The former 11-year NBA player released a statement suggesting that he is declaring for 2027 WNBA Draft.
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In explaining his proclamation, the Turkish-American player suggested that he is entirely eligible for the draft process based on the current guidelines. This has naturally caused quite a stir.
“After careful consideration and reviewing the current eligibility guidelines, I’m officially declaring myself a WNBA prospect,” Freedom wrote on X.
“If simply declaring who you are is all that’s required, then I meet every single requirement necessary to compete in the WNBA.
“My team and I have carefully examined the WNBA’s eligibility criteria and governing framework surrounding self-identification and inclusion.
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“Based on the current guidelines, I can and am officially declaring my eligibility for the upcoming WNBA draft in April 2027.”
This is a radical move, but one that might have been expected considering how much attention the debate is now garnering. For the WNBA, how they deal with this is yet to be seen, but will set an extremely important example.
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