Indiana Fever guard Sophie Cunningham’s recent comments have stirred major controversy in the WNBA, and recently, former first-round pick Enes Kanter Freedom has entered the conversation with a move nobody expected. Since being published by ESPN on July 21, Cunningham’s comments have sparked a massive debate around the WNBA, with people showing up in support of Cunningham as well as in opposition to her. However, this discourse has taken an unexpected turn, as the former Boston Celtics center, Freedom, declared for the 2027 WNBA Draft on X.
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“After careful consideration and reviewing the current eligibility guidelines, I’m officially declaring myself a @WNBA prospect…Based on the current guidelines, I can and am officially declaring my eligibility for the upcoming WNBA draft in April 2027.”
As his announcement quickly stirred up reactions online, members of the media community were far from impressed.
“Embarrassing behavior,” CelticsBlog writer Noa Dalzell wrote in response to his announcement.
“Attention seeking at its finest,” award-winning women’s basketball insider Khristina Williams added.
Since leaving the NBA, Enes Kanter Freedom has remained outspoken on a range of political and social issues by frequently using social media to criticize organizations and policies he disagrees with. So while some members of the media community were quick to dismiss his latest post, others appeared more than willing to see just how far he could take it.
T.V. personality and author of Woke Is Dead, Piers Morgan, took to X in a reply to Freedom’s post.
“Brilliant… now let’s see how keen the @WNBA stars are for men to play in their League.”
Morgan’s response seemingly aimed at players like Golden State Valkyries star Gabby Williams and Seattle Storm center Stefanie Dolson, who have openly supported the inclusion of trans athletes.
Sports commentator Jon Root also defended Freedom in response to criticism, citing former NCAA swimmer Lia Thomas as an example. Root argued that Thomas spent three of her four collegiate seasons competing in men’s sports before transitioning to women’s. So he insisted that the scenario Enes Kanter Freedom is presenting is not merely hypothetical and criticized those who fail to acknowledge it.
But can he actually play in the WNBA?
The Collective Bargaining Agreement signed in 2026 states that “only players who are women are eligible to play in the WNBA,” while also prohibiting discrimination based on several factors. However, the agreement does not publicly outline a specific policy regarding transgender athletes. The league has also refused to clarify its stance on the same per a July 2 report by ESPN’s Katie Barnes.
Enes Kanter Freedom has also not played professional basketball since retiring from the NBA in 2022. So while his declaration has certainly added another layer to an already heated conversation, whether it can translate into an actual opportunity on the court rests with the league’s eligibility rules.