WNBA faces showdown over transgender eligibility as former NBA players enter draft race

Former NBA center Enes Kanter Freedom posted a workout video on X announcing his plan to enter the 2027 WNBA draft, while former first‑round pick Royce White also declared his intent to file for the same draft, citing the league’s collective bargaining language on self‑identification. The announcements have sparked a polarized response on social media, with some users cheering the effort and others criticizing the players’ gender identities.

WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert said the issue is complex and that the league will continue conversations with team officials and the players association. The Women’s National Basketball Players Association issued a statement that did not clarify whether the current CBA permits male players, and the league’s eligibility rules, as currently written, limit participation to women without defining gender identity.