Former NBA star Enes Kanter Freedom has declared himself eligible for the WNBA draft, stating that he meets all requirements under the league’s self-identification policy. The announcement follows heightened scrutiny of the WNBA’s transgender inclusion guidelines.
In a social media post, the 6-foot-10 center wrote: “After careful consideration and reviewing the current eligibility guidelines, I’m officially declaring myself a @WNBA prospect.”
Freedom added: “If simply declaring who you are is all that’s required, then I meet every single requirement necessary to compete in the WNBA.”
The former New York Knicks and Boston Celtics player explained that his team examined the WNBA’s eligibility criteria and governing framework surrounding self-identification and inclusion, concluding he was eligible for the April 2027 draft.
The league’s transgender policy has been under discussion since Indiana Fever forward Sophie Cunningham addressed it in a July interview with ESPN. Cunningham stated: “I want to protect young girls in a locker room, or young girls in sport who shouldn’t have to go against biological men.”
Recent divisions within the WNBA have emerged over this issue. Golden State Valkyries head coach Gabby Williams expressed that she would welcome a transgender athlete on her team “anytime,” while Minnesota Lynx head coach Cheryl Reeve made her stance clear by wearing a “Trans Kids Belong” t-shirt during a game against Cunningham’s Fever.
Born in Switzerland to Turkish parents, Freedom changed his name after becoming a U.S. citizen in 2021, shifting his original surname Kanter to his middle name.
This marks Freedom’s second appearance in the league’s gender policy discussions. In 2023, he questioned whether he should “put on a wig, identify as a woman and start dominating the WNBA,” stating at the time he was making a point about the issue.
Freedom concluded: “I know my presence on the court will stir up strong opinions. I am definitely not here to mock, make fun of, or disrespect any community or personal choices.”
