WNBA Rules Former NBA Players Kanter Freedom and White Ineligible

League officials ruled on August 24, 2026, that former NBA players Enes Kanter Freedom and Royce White are ineligible for the 2027 WNBA Draft after both declared their candidacies asserting they identified as women.

League sources characterized the draft entries as publicity stunts designed to mock the organization, though the league's collective bargaining agreement currently restricts participation to women without defining specific biological or gender identity parameters.

The eligibility decision follows an August 23 incident at Wintrust Arena in Chicago, where arena security escorted Freedom from a game between the Chicago Sky and Indiana Fever after a third-quarter verbal confrontation with Sky guard Natasha Cloud.

Freedom sat courtside wearing a shirt displaying a dictionary definition of a woman before being approached by Cloud, who pointed and yelled at him following a timeout, prompting security and teammates to intervene.

Cloud addressed her supporters on social media after the game regarding her position on community protection.

"To every trans kid/person, You are a part of MY community & tribe. You belong. You're loved.

You're seen. You're perfect as you are. & you will always be protected by me," said Natasha Cloud, guard for the Chicago Sky.

Freedom expressed his perspective online after police officers escorted him out of the facility following his baseline conversation with venue security.

"I just got kicked out of a WNBA game for supporting WOMEN! Let that sink in, AMERICA!" said Enes Kanter Freedom, former NBA center.

The debate surrounding league eligibility rules intensified earlier in the summer after public comments regarding roster parameters were made during an ESPN interview.

Public commentary within sports media included concerns regarding potential legal challenges against the league's decisions.

"If true and officially decided, Kanter's discrimination lawsuit will be inbound for the WNBA offices inside a week," said Corey Clayton, journalist.

Additional public reactions criticized the league's handling of inclusion standards and policy definitions.

"Absolute ridiculous mess! The WNBA is full of BIGOTS who still have yet to define what a woman really is," said one fan online.

Other observers questioned the organizational consistency regarding participant access.

"So the WNBA is all talk about being inclusive," said another fan online.

Further social media discussions predicted extended legal challenges over the draft declarations.

"I have a feeling this is going to be litigated. lmao what a clown show!" said a commentator on social media.

Conversely, some observers argued the league should dismiss the entries without formal engagement.

"Serves them right, hope they got to enjoy a little bit of that relevancy while it lasted," said a supporter of the decision online.

Other fans expressed similar views that the situation lacked practical athletic merit.

"Not even worth a statement just let them go undrafted and unsigned. Pointless to give it any mind," said an additional fan online.

The league spokesperson noted that officials intend to continue internal discussions regarding eligibility policies with various organizational stakeholders moving forward.