The WNBA has pushed back against what it called “bad-faith efforts” surrounding the debate over transgender women competing in the league after former NBA players Enes Kanter Freedom and Royce White claimed they were women and discussed entering the 2027 WNBA Draft.
Following an anti-hate task force meeting Wednesday, a league spokesperson said there “are no immediate eligibility matters affecting the WNBA.”
“We strongly denounce the bad-faith efforts to use these topics to demean or marginalize others,” the spokesperson added.
The debate intensified after Indiana Fever guard Sophie Cunningham said she wanted to “protect young girls” who “shouldn’t have to go against biological men.”
There are currently no openly transgender women playing in the WNBA.
White later said he identified “as sometimes identifying as a woman for purposes of professional basketball,” while Kanter Freedom claimed he had begun his “transition.”
WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert has said the league will “always approach this topic thoughtfully, respectfully, and in alignment with the longstanding values of our league.”
She added that “preserving the integrity of our game and ensuring fair competition will always remain among the league’s highest priorities.”
WNBA Slams ‘Bad-Faith’ Transgender Debate after Enes Kanter, Royce White Claim They’re Women https://t.co/IyFqqQLPyn
— TMZ Sports (@TMZ_Sports) August 13, 2026
