Donald Trump Jr has backed Enes Kanter Freedom to ‘break every record in the WNBA in year one’ after his bombshell decision to declare for the Draft as a trans player.
The WNBA is in the middle of an ugly culture war, and Golden State Valkyries star Gabby Williams recently sparked a huge reaction when she claimed she would happily welcome a trans player to her team.
Kanter Freedom, 34, became the first former NBA player to call her bluff on Friday, posting a video declaring that he would attempt to join the WNBA in the 2027 season.
On X, the 6ft 10ins ex-Knicks star had immediate backing from America’s elite, as the president’s son Donald Trump Jr posted: ‘I’m going to go out [on] a limb here and predict Enes breaks every record in the WNBA in year one.
‘She is truly going to make a spectacular women’s basketball player.’
It, of course, remains to be seen whether Enes Freedom, or Royce White – who followed in his footsteps shortly after to become the second ex-NBA player to try it – will be successful in their attempts to infiltrate the WNBA.
Donald Trump Jr posted on X about Enes Kanter Freedom’s bid to join the WNBA next year
Trump Jr claimed Kanter Freedom would break ‘every record in the WNBA’ in year one
Trump Jr’s father, president Donald J. Trump, has long been in favor of keeping trans athletes out of women’s sports and in February 2025 signed an executive order to implement it.
The ‘Keeping Men Out of Women’s Sports’ order directed federal agencies to enforce Title IX, while also calling for potential legal action against institutions that allowed male-born athletes to compete in women’s sports.
In Enes Freedom’s announcement video, the ex-Knicks and Boston Celtics star had told his fans: ‘After careful consideration and reviewing the current eligibility guidelines, I’m officially declaring myself a @WNBA prospect.
‘If simply declaring who you are is all that’s required, then I meet every single requirement necessary to compete in the WNBA.
‘My team and I have carefully examined the WNBA’s eligibility criteria and governing framework surrounding self-identification and inclusion. Based on the current guidelines, I can and am officially declaring my eligibility for the upcoming WNBA draft in April 2027.
Ex-NBA star Kanter Freedom became the first men’s player to call Gabby Williams’ bluff
Williams recently claimed she would ‘welcome’ a transgender teammate
‘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.
‘I’m simply asking that the current rules be applied equally to everyone – the rules that represent the very values many WNBA players and coaches have publicly advocated for.
‘My team and I are prepared to ensure these guidelines are applied equally, consistently, and without exception, and I look forward to the #WNBA honoring its stated principles. See you at training camp.’
The 34-year-old was previously picked third overall at the 2011 NBA Draft, before enjoying a career that took him to the Jazz, Thunder, Knicks, Trail Blazers and Celtics. He has not played a professional game since 2022.
Freedom’s post quickly went viral on social media as a number of political commentators threw their support behind the NBA veteran and his decision.
Riley Gaines was among those to respond to the post, writing: ‘Genius. Perfect. Waiting to see which WNBA team recruits’.
Similarly, Piers Morgan wrote on X: ‘Brilliant… now let’s see how keen the @WNBA stars are for men to play in their League.’
Minnesota Lynx head coach Cheryl Reeve recently wore a ‘Trans Kids Belong’ t-shirt
Clay Travis, meanwhile, who recently offered to pay $10 million to WNBA champions the Las Vegas Aces if they can beat a high school boys basketball team of his choosing, wrote: ‘Amazing. Well done.’
Freedom’s declaration comes amid an ongoing culture war within the WNBA, sparked by Indiana Fever star Sophie Cunningham after she said in an interview with ESPN that she wants to ‘protect young girls’ from ‘biological men’ in sports.
Since making the comments, the sports world has been left divided.
While some, such as Gaines and ESPN’s Smith, have seemingly sided with the Fever star, others have openly criticized her and booed her on the court.
In the wake of Cunningham’s comments, Minnesota Lynx head coach Cheryl Reeve made her feelings on the topic extremely clear last Sunday – after opting to wear a ‘Trans Kids Belong’ t-shirt on the sidelines of their game against the Fever.
Elsewhere on the day, meanwhile, Gaines showed her support attending a Fever game and bringing a sign for Cunningham – before allegedly being told to put it away by WNBA staff.
The sign read: ‘Sophie, Thank You – A Girl Mom.’
Recent comments from Sophie Cunningham left WNBA fans, players and coaches divided
Freedom’s announcement comes amid the WNBA’s bitter culture war after Cunningham advocated for restrictions to ‘protect young girls’ from ‘biological men’ in sports
However, during the game, retired gymnast and friend of Gaines, Jennifer Sey, revealed that the political activist had been told to put her sign down by staff.
Gaines swiftly reposted Sey’s post on X and added: ‘There were no fewer than 1000 signs in the arena. Most with trans paraphernalia. The only person who was told to put her sign down by WNBA officials was me. Wonder why.’
In the end, Gaines was able to keep hold of her sign and even had Cunningham hold it as they posed for a courtside picture together after the Lynx’s 108-100 win.
Gaines, Cunningham and Sey all posed together, with the two supporters performing Cunningham’s now-iconic ‘point’ towards the camera.
Gaines also shared a picture with Cunningham on Instagram, writing: ‘I show up for @sophie_cham because she shows up for my daughter.’
Though she didn’t comment on it, the Fever star did take time to like Gaines’ post.
