Former NBA center Enes Kanter Freedom says he plans to enter the 2027 WNBA Draft, inserting himself into the intensifying national debate over transgender inclusion and eligibility rules in women’s sports.
Freedom, who stands at 6ft 10in and played in the NBA for 11 seasons, shared the announcement with his fans through a post on social media on Friday afternoon.
In a video, the former New York Knicks and Boston Celtics star said: ‘After careful consideration and reviewing the current eligibility guidelines, I’m officially declaring myself a @WNBA prospect.
Freedom argued that if self-identification is enough to satisfy eligibility standards, he believes he would meet the requirements to pursue a spot in the league.
He said his representatives had reviewed the WNBA’s eligibility policies and inclusion framework, claiming that under the league’s current guidelines he “can and am officially declaring” for the WNBA Draft scheduled for April 2027.
Acknowledging that the announcement is likely to generate backlash, Freedom insisted his move was not intended to ridicule or demean any group, community or personal decision.
Former NBA player Enes Kanter Freedom says he is declaring for the 2027 WNBA Draft
Freedom’s claim comes as the WNBA faces a heated culture-war debate after Sophie Cunningham called for restrictions she said would “protect young girls” from “biological men” in sports
Freedom said his central point is that the league’s stated rules should be enforced uniformly, including the inclusion principles that some WNBA players and coaches have publicly supported.
He added that his team is ready to press for those guidelines to be applied “equally, consistently, and without exception,” closing his statement by saying he expects the WNBA to honor its principles: “See you at training camp.”
The 34-year-old was previously picked third overall at the 2011 NBA Draft, before enjoying a career that took him to the Jazz, Thunder, Knicks, Trail Blazers and Celtics. He has not played a professional game since 2022.
Freedom’s post quickly went viral on social media as a number of political commentators threw their support behind the NBA veteran and his decision.
Riley Gaines was among those to respond to the post, writing: ‘Genius. Perfect. Waiting to see which WNBA team recruits’.
Similarly, Piers Morgan wrote on X: ‘Brilliant… now let’s see how keen the @WNBA stars are for men to play in their League.’
Clay Travis, meanwhile, who recently offered to pay $10 million to WNBA champions the Las Vegas Aces if they can beat a high school boys basketball team of his choosing, wrote: ‘Amazing. Well done.’
Freedom’s declaration comes amid an ongoing culture war within the WNBA, sparked by Indiana Fever star Sophie Cunningham after she said in an interview with ESPN that she wants to ‘protect young girls’ from ‘biological men’ in sports.
In a video, Freedom said he ‘meets every single requirement to compete in the WNBA’
Cunningham’s comments have left fans, players and coaches in the WNBA divided recently
WNBA star Gabby Williams recently claimed she would ‘welcome’ a transgender teammate
Minnesota Lynx head coach Cheryl Reeve recently wore a ‘Trans Kids Belong’ t-shirt
Since making the comments, the sports world has been left divided.
While some, such as Riley Gaines and Stephen A. Smith, have seemingly sided with the Fever star, others have openly criticized her and booed her on the court.
Recently, the bitter culture war deepened after Golden State Valkyries star Gabby Williams claimed she would happily welcome a trans player to her team.
‘I think trans rights, right now, is our new battle,’ Williams said in a recent interview, adding: ‘We see people’s trans rights being stripped away from them; there’s a lot of discourse around trans athletes and what they can compete in.
‘I would welcome a trans athlete on my team or against my team, anytime,’ Williams added. ‘I don’t think it’s a problem in the world.’
In the wake of Cunningham’s comments, Minnesota Lynx head coach Cheryl Reeve made her feelings on the topic extremely clear on Sunday – after opting to wear a ‘Trans Kids Belong’ t-shirt on the sidelines of their game against the Fever.
Elsewhere on the day, meanwhile, Gaines showed her support attending a Fever game and bringing a sign for Cunningham – before allegedly being told to put it away by WNBA staff.
The sign read: ‘Sophie, Thank You – A Girl Mom.’
However, during the game, retired gymnast and friend of Gaines, Jennifer Sey, revealed that the political activist had been told to put her sign down by staff.
A number of political commentators were quick to praise Freedom for his announcement
Political activist Riley Gaines showed her support for Cunningham by attending her game
After the game, Gaines took to social media to take aim at the WNBA staffer over the matter
Gaines swiftly reposted Sey’s post on X and added: ‘There were no fewer than 1000 signs in the arena. Most with trans paraphernalia. The only person who was told to put her sign down by WNBA officials was me. Wonder why.’
In the end, Gaines was able to keep hold of her sign and even had Cunningham hold it as they posed for a courtside picture together after the Lynx’s 108-100 win.
Gaines, Cunningham and Sey all posed together, with the two supporters performing Cunningham’s now-iconic ‘point’ towards the camera.
Gaines also shared a picture with Cunningham on Instagram, writing: ‘I show up for @sophie_cham because she shows up for my daughter.’
Though she didn’t comment on it, the Fever star did take time to like Gaines’ post.
