Former NBA center Enes Kanter says eight male professional basketball players are considering registering as women for the 2027 WNBA draft.
The Turkish center revealed in a social media video that he has spoken with two former NBA players, three NBA G League players, and three players based in Europe who are examining joining what he described as a movement if league rules remain unchanged.
Financial Comparisons and Player Salaries
Kanter stated that the group is considering coming out as women and submitting their names for the draft, citing significant earnings differences between men's developmental basketball and women's professional basketball.
According to figures provided by Kanter, players in the NBA G League earn $45,000 per year, whereas top players in the WNBA earn $1.4 million annually.
Kanter claimed that male players could earn an additional $1,355,000 per year simply by self-identifying as women, adding that rules are rules.
Initial WNBA Draft Declaration
The social media update follows Kanter's announcement days earlier that he planned to enter the WNBA draft himself.
While many observers initially treated his original announcement as a social media joke, Kanter later clarified his position and officially submitted his draft entry.
Kanter stated that if the sole requirement to participate in the WNBA was to be oneself, then he fulfilled all necessary conditions.
He added that he was aware his presence on the court would generate intense reactions, emphasizing that he was not attempting to mock or show disrespect toward any community or personal choice.
League Background and Organizational Structure
Enes Kanter, who officially changed his name to Enes Kanter Freedom, spent 11 seasons in North America as a center in the National Basketball Association after being selected third overall in the 2011 NBA draft.
The Women's National Basketball Association, known as the WNBA, is the top professional women's basketball league in North America, operating under the oversight of USA Basketball.
The NBA G League serves as the official minor league development organization for the NBA, providing player development pathways for professional basketball talent.
Future Eligibility and Rule Decisions
Kanter indicated that the players he contacted intend to monitor upcoming decisions regarding league eligibility criteria prior to the 2027 draft process.
Neither the WNBA nor the NBA has issued an official public response regarding Kanter's filings or statements.
