Ex-NBA star Enes Kanter Freedom has revealed the WNBA have ruled him ineligible to declare for the 2027 Draft amid the transgender firestorm engulfing the league.
Kanter made headlines in August after declaring for the WNBA Draft in protest of the league’s gender eligibility criteria. He later sparked further drama when he was ejected from a Chicago Sky game following a heated courtside confrontation.
The 34-year-old has regularly called for WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert to respond to his declaration for the Draft and, on Tuesday morning, issued an update.
Taking to X, Kanter shared an email from the league sent to his representatives which addressed both his ejection from the Sky game and his Draft aspirations.
It read: ‘With respect to your questions regarding eligibility, only women are eligible to play in the WNBA and the individuals you cite in your letter are both men.
‘The WNBA will continue its efforts to ensure the safety, fair treatment and well-being of our players and personnel, including working to address the significant amount of hate and vitriol directed at WNBA players online and on social media’.
Ex-NBA star Enes Kanter Freedom has revealed the WNBA have ruled him ineligible to declare for the 2027 Draft amid the transgender firestorm engulfing the league
Kanter has regularly called for WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert to respond to his declaration for the Draft
In response to the WNBA’s decision, Kanter wrote on X: ‘Ladies and gentlemen of America, the moment you’ve all been waiting for. The WNBA has officially responded.
‘Apparently, the WNBA still can’t define what a WOMAN is, but they’re absolutely certain they know what a MAN is! How convenient!
‘WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert has declared that I am a man. Who gave her the authority to decide who I am? Who gets to define my identity?
‘And how can the WNBA determine who is a man without explaining what qualifies someone as a woman?
‘Is the WNBA denying people the right to define their own gender identity? You can’t have it both ways! The WNBA has some explaining to do!’
Elsewhere in their letter, the WNBA addressed his ejection from the Sky game.
They said: ‘All on-court conduct is governed by WNBA rules. As indicated in my previous response to your inquiry, WNBA officials are responsible for enforcing those rules and assessing fouls and other violations that occur during game play.
‘Likewise, each game is reviewed after the fact by WNBA League Basketball Operations, and that process includes a review of any atypical or overly physical plays.
Kanter, 34, initially explained his Draft aspirations in a viral post back in August
The drama began when WNBA star Sophie Cunningham advocated for ‘protecting young girls’ in women’s sports during an ESPN interview
‘Based on that review, the League may upgrade fouls or take disciplinary action where appropriate. In all instances the League seeks to apply its rules and relevant disciplinary processes consistently for all players, coaches, and officials.
‘Fans in WNBA arenas are governed by the WNBA Fan Code of Conduct, which, among other things requires that they ‘enjoy the basketball experience free from disruptive behavior.’
‘Fans that do not adhere to this Code of Conduct are subject to, among other things, ejection from the premises. As in the case of on-court rules enforcement, the League and its teams seek to apply the Code of Conduct consistently.’
Back in August, Kanter shared a letter he claimed to have sent to WNBA commissioner Engelbert. The letter read: ‘Please accept this formal document as my official written notification to the Women’s National Basketball Association of my voluntary decision to enter the player pool for the 2027 WNBA Draft.
‘Consistent with the current league collective bargaining agreement, I am submitting this notice to exercise my draft rights and to affirm that I am at least twenty-two years old and that I have no remaining intercollegiate eligibility, as required by Article XIII, Section 1(b).
‘I request that the WNBA League Office verify receipt of this document and direct any future communications to my personal email address listed above. Thank you for your official processing of my registration into the 2027 draft pool. Respectfully submitted this 6 day of August 2026.’
