Indiana Fever guard Sophie Cunningham’s stance on trans athletes participating in women’s sports has quickly become the focal point of a nationwide debate in recent weeks.
That initial firestorm has now completely derailed a typical WNBA news cycle. Former NBA players Enes Kanter Freedom and Royce White have used the Cunningham controversy to frame a challenge to the league’s inclusion policies by declaring for the 2027 WNBA Draft.
Can Enes Kanter, Royce White Really Declare for the WNBA Draft?
Freedom launched the declaration first, posting a video on X on Friday, claiming he reviewed the league’s eligibility rules and wrote:
“My team and I have carefully examined the WNBA’s eligibility criteria and governing framework surrounding self-identification and inclusion,” Freedom said. “Based on the current guidelines, I can and am officially declaring my eligibility for the upcoming WNBA draft in April 2027.”
Not long after, White told Fox News Digital that he is declaring for the WNBA draft.
“I’m transgender. I’m a woman. I identify as sometimes identifying as a woman for purpose of basketball, professional basketball, so I’ll be declaring for the WNBA draft in 2027 as well,” White said.
“I think I’d be unstoppable. But I’m a team-first guy. I’m a pass-first kind of player… I’ll do whatever the coach needs me to do. I’ll do whatever the girls need me to do… I think it’s only fair.”
While the declarations seem to be leveraging the controversy to make a political point, the two former NBA pros are unlikely to be eligible to declare for the WNBA draft.
Joe Wrote said the WNBA instituted a strict one-year hormone therapy requirement for transgender players a decade ago.
“He [Kanter Freedom] doesn’t meet the requirement,” Wrote posted. “WNBA instituted a 1-year of hormone therapy rule for trans players. It’s been in place for a decade. This wasn’t a problem until reactionaries made it one.”
He doesn’t meet the requirement. WNBA instituted a 1-year of hormone therapy rule for trans players. It’s been in place for a decade. This wasn’t a problem until reactionaries made it one. https://t.co/5qUnr0xhoe
— Joe Wrote (@joewrote) August 7, 2026
A community note clarified that the WNBA does not have a one-year hormone therapy rule. According to the league’s Collective Bargaining Agreement, “only players who are women are eligible to play in the WNBA.”
The WNBA Players Association also issued a statement embracing justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion, but stopped short of setting out specific eligibility rules.
Article 34, Section 6 of the WNBA collective bargaining agreement eliminates discrimination based on “religion, race, national origin, sexual orientation, marital status or activity or lack of activity.”
Article 13 dictates player eligibility, stating that “only players who are women are eligible to play in the WNBA,” without detailing specifics regarding transgender eligibility.
Regardless of whether they’re eligible, the declarations are likely to force the WNBA to examine how airtight its inclusion policies.
