The “dreams” of Enes Kanter Freedom and Royce White to transition from former NBA players to current WNBA stars have been shot down after the league decided to declare them “ineligible” for the 2027 WNBA draft.
A person familiar with the decision, whose name was withheld citing sensitivity of the issue, told media about the league’s decision weeks after Kanter Freedom and White declared their intention to enter next year’s draft, as they also identified themselves as “women.”
The report meant that the league remains aligned with its collective bargaining agreement that the WNBA is restricted to women.
However, it remains to be seen if the officials will make any changes to its language on gender identity or sex assigned at birth.
READ MORE: Former NBA player Enes Kanter Freedom ejected from WNBA game
Kanter Freedom clashes with Cloud
The WNBA’s “decision” came after 6-foot-10 Kanter Freedom, who played competitive men’s basketball in the NBA for over 10 seasons, was ejected during the Indiana Fever-Chicago Sky game on Sunday after his confrontation with Sky guard Natasha Cloud in the third quarter.
The Turkish-American center/forward was sitting along the baseline wearing a black shirt that read “WOMAN noun. adult human female.”
The Fever called for a timeout after Cloud scored. The Sky guard then did a chest bump with teammate Aicha Coulibaly before turning around and walking in Freedom’s direction.
While approaching Freedom, Cloud yelled and pointed at the NBA veteran, who held his arms out and took one step on the court as security and a handful of Sky players moved in between the two.
Controversy regarding transgender athletes continues
White played only three games in the NBA in the 2013-14 season for the Sacramento Kings.
Fever guard Sophie Cunningham said in an ESPN profile published last month that she was opposed to transgender girls and women competing in girls’ and women’s sports.
Since her statement went public, the league has been embroiled in debates about transgender participation.
READ NEXT: Participation of transgender athletes in WNBA becomes a hot topic
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