Former NBA players Enes Kanter Freedom and Royce White have declared themselves eligible for the 2027 WNBA draft after stating that they identify as women. Kanter, a 2.11-meter center of Turkish origin and American nationality, announced his decision following recent debates over transgender athletes in women's basketball. White, a former forward for the Sacramento Kings, followed Kanter's announcement hours later by also declaring himself a transgender woman.
Kanter said that if simply declaring who you are is all that is required, then he meets every necessary requirement to compete in the WNBA. He stated that he and his team carefully examined the WNBA eligibility criteria and regulatory framework around self-identification and inclusion before officially declaring for the April 2027 draft. Kanter added that his announcement is not a mock or a sign of disrespect, and he expects a positive response from the league.
WNBA task force and eligibility rules
The debate reached the WNBA three weeks ago when Indiana Fever player Sophie Cunningham publicly expressed her views on player safety. Cunningham said she wants to protect girls in locker rooms and in sports who should not have to compete against biological men. She reiterated her stance 24 hours later, stating that she said what she said and believed it was a matter of common sense.
Cunningham's statements drew strong reactions across the league and political support from U.S. Vice President JD Vance. Minnesota Lynx head coach Cheryl Reeve wore a t-shirt stating that trans kids also have a place, while Seattle Storm co-owner Celeste Keaton confronted young people showing explicit support for Cunningham.
In response to the growing controversy, WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert announced the creation of a task force made up of franchise presidents and general managers. Engelbert said she knew officials had received questions in recent weeks about trans athletes in women's basketball and expected the topic to continue drawing significant attention. The task force aims to guarantee league integrity and fair competition under current rules, which state that only female players can compete but lack specific guidelines regarding gender identity or sex assigned at birth.
Enes Kanter career and political background
Kanter was selected third overall in the 2011 NBA draft and played 11 seasons in the league before retiring four years ago. During his career, he played for the Utah Jazz, Oklahoma City Thunder, New York Knicks, Portland Trail Blazers, and completed two separate stints with the Boston Celtics.
His political activism has previously drawn international attention and led to sporting consequences. Boston Celtics games were removed from Chinese broadcasts in 2021 after Kanter defended Tibetan independence and called Chinese President Xi Jinping a dictator. Turkey also revoked his passport and barred him from entering the country after he criticized Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, leading Kanter to become a U.S. citizen on November 29, 2021, and change his legal name to Enes Kanter Freedom.
Royce White declaration for the draft
Royce White made his announcement shortly after Kanter, declaring that he is a transgender woman seeking entry into the 2027 draft. White is an American forward whose NBA career included three games played for the Sacramento Kings.
