Enes Kanter: “I’m declaring for the 2027 WNBA Draft”

A few hours apart, Enes Kanter and Royce White announced their intention to declare for the 2027 WNBA Draft, claiming they want to test the league’s current rules regarding gender identity and inclusion.

The stance comes amid the controversy surrounding comments made by Sophie Cunningham, a player for the Indiana Fever.

Sophie Cunningham and the transgender controversy in the WNBA

It all began with comments from Cunningham, who in recent weeks has publicly expressed her position on the participation of transgender athletes in women’s sports.

The Fever player said she wanted to “protect girls in the locker room and in sports, who should not be forced to compete against biological men”.

The comments inevitably divided public opinion. Demonstrations in support of Cunningham were held outside some Fever road games, while several WNBA figures expressed differing views.

Among them was Cheryl Reeve, head coach of the Minnesota Lynx, who wore a shirt reading “Trans Kids Belong” during a nationally televised game.

And it was against this backdrop that Kanter and White made their moves.

Enes Kanter declares for the 2027 WNBA Draft

The controversy escalated further when Enes Kanter Freedom publicly announced his intention to declare for the 2027 WNBA Draft.

The former NBA center said he had reviewed the league’s current guidelines with his team regarding eligibility, self-identification and inclusion. From there came his provocation:

After careful consideration and after reviewing the current eligibility guidelines, I am officially declaring myself a WNBA prospect. If simply declaring who you are is enough to be considered eligible, then I meet all the necessary requirements to compete in the WNBA

Enes Kanter

Kanter explained that his team had examined the eligibility criteria and the regulatory framework surrounding self-identification and inclusion, reaching the conclusion that, according to their interpretation, he could declare himself eligible for the upcoming Draft.

The former NBA player nevertheless wanted to emphasize that he does not consider his initiative an attack on the transgender community:

I know my presence on the court will generate strong opinions. I am absolutely not here to mock, ridicule or disrespect any community or personal choice. I am simply asking that the current rules be applied equally to everyone

Enes Kanter

Kanter’s point concerns precisely the principles of inclusion publicly supported by several players and coaches around the league.

These are the rules that represent the same values for which many WNBA players and coaches have spoken publicly. My team and I are prepared to ensure that these guidelines are applied fairly, consistently and without exceptions

Enes Kanter

Kanter then closed his message by addressing the WNBA directly:

I can’t wait for the WNBA to uphold the principles it has declared. See you at training camp

Enes Kanter

Royce White follows Kanter: “I’m declaring for the Draft”

The story did not end with Kanter. A few hours later, Royce White, a former first-round NBA Draft pick and current Republican candidate for the U.S. Senate in Minnesota, also weighed in.

White repeated the same provocation, even claiming that he had gotten ahead of Kanter with a message posted on social media several days earlier.

I am transgender. I am a woman. Sometimes I identify as a woman for the purpose of playing basketball, professional basketball, so I will also declare for the 2027 WNBA Draft

Royce White

White then identified his preferred destination: Minnesota, directly bringing Cheryl Reeve and the Lynx coach’s stated position into the discussion.

The former NBA player went even further, suggesting he could consider legal action for discrimination if he were not selected.

The WNBPA’s response

Here, however, comes the most important part of the story. Publicly declaring an intention to participate in the Draft does not automatically mean being admitted to the 2027 WNBA Draft.

Kanter and White’s announcements therefore do not guarantee that either will actually be included in the pool of eligible players, let alone that they could be selected or earn a roster spot.

At the moment, the WNBA has not publicly clarified how it would evaluate formal requests of this kind.

The WNBPA, the players’ union, has instead weighed in, reiterating its position without directly naming Kanter or White.

We support justice, equity, diversity and inclusion

WNBPA

The statement also emphasizes that:

Hatred, abuse and the demonization of any person or group of people, including transgender people, only fuel fear, division and harm

WNBPA

The WNBPA also made clear that players “will not be used as political pawns”.

The union did not, however, address the actual eligibility of the two former NBA players and, at least for now, neither has the league explained which criteria would be applied in a situation like this.