Former NBA champion Jason Williams slams Enes Kanter's transgender sports stunt
Jason Williams condemned Enes Kanter's claim of identifying as a woman and seeking WNBA eligibility, calling it a bid for attention.
On his “Hoopin’ N Hollerin’” podcast, former Miami Heat champion Jason Williams, nicknamed “White Chocolate,” lambasted Enes Kanter for recent remarks about identifying as a woman and seeking to compete in women’s athletics, calling the effort a clear attempt to attract attention. Kanter had posted a video claiming he identified as a woman and declared himself eligible for the 2027 WNBA draft, a position the WNBA publicly refuted.
The tension spilled over into a live WNBA game on Sunday, where Kanter was removed from the arena after a heated exchange with Chicago Sky guard Natasha Cloud during the Indiana Fever-Chicago Sky matchup at Wintrust Arena. Williams, who follows women’s sports through his daughter Mia’s softball career at Texas Tech, expressed disbelief at Kanter’s desire to “play with girls.” The incident underscores the ongoing controversy surrounding transgender athletes’ participation in female sports leagues.
Why it matters
The clash highlights the heated debate over transgender athletes' inclusion in women's sports.
How this story developed
- Aug 10 WNBA chief outlines league's plan to address transgender athlete debate
- Aug 16 The WNBA subreddit now filters any mention of Sophie Cunningham’s name.
- Aug 23 Enes Kanter Freedom announced a mock WNBA draft bid to pressure the league into clarifying its rules on transgender competitors, citing recent support for trans athletes by coaches and players.
- Aug 25 The league ruled Kanter Freedom and Royce White ineligible for the 2027 draft and Kanter was ejected from a game after a verbal altercation with Natasha Cloud.
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