“After careful consideration and reviewing the current eligibility guidelines, I’m officially declaring myself a WNBA prospect.” This one line from former NBA player Enes Kanter Freedom has sent the basketball community into a frenzy.
The Minnesota Lynx currently sit atop the 2026 WNBA standings with a 25-7 record. But much of the conversation has shifted away from the court. It has shifted toward Freedom’s declaration and a recent comment made by a former head coach.
Dan Dakich’s Recent Message Involving Stephanie White
Former Indiana Hoosiers interim head coach Dan Dakich has appeared to challenge Stephanie White’s old statement by referencing her belief that exclusion should not be the answer.
“We have been lectured by [Indiana Fever] Head Coach and Players about “inclusion”… this seems to put that to a test!!!” Dakich wrote on X.
We have been lectured by @IndianaFever Head Coach and Players about “inclusion”… this seems to put that to a test!!! https://t.co/2uk4okC7oD
— Dan Dakich (@dandakich) August 8, 2026
Freedom’s announcement specifically pointed toward the WNBA’s current eligibility framework. He suggested that if eligibility can be determined through identity and the existing rules, then he should be able to present himself as a legitimate prospect for the 2027 WNBA Draft.
That has added another layer to an already heated conversation surrounding the Indiana Fever.
The controversy comes shortly after Fever guard Sophie Cunningham sparked significant discussion with her comments about transgender athletes competing in women’s sports. Cunningham faced heavy criticism after expressing her concerns.
She later clarified that her position was not rooted in hatred toward transgender people, saying she intended to protect women and young girls in sports.
“I got a lot of negative feedback about me hating trans. And I’m like, ‘I never once said that.’ I think that I am here to extend love. But I also think with that love is truth, being honest. And I want to protect young girls in a locker room, or young girls in sport who shouldn’t have to go against biological men,” Cunningham said, per ESPN.
White was subsequently asked about the broader issue during an interview. When questioned about transgender athletes competing in women’s sports, the Fever coach said she was not sufficiently educated on the subject from a scientific standpoint.
“I don’t know, when we talk about biological males scientifically where we are, I think it’s a totally different scenario.”
“As I said, I’m not educated enough in transgender and transitioning to give you a smart answer. I would say, though, that I just don’t think that exclusion is an answer, and I think that we need to have deeper, more layered conversations,” White said as per IndyStar.
As for Freedom, his WNBA declaration remains surrounded by questions. He spent 11 seasons in the NBA before his final stint ended with the Houston Rockets, who waived him in February 2022. His sudden decision to declare for the 2027 WNBA Draft has no confirmed explanation.
It could simply be Freedom provoking a conversation around the league’s policies. It could also be connected to the Cunningham controversy that has dominated WNBA headlines in recent weeks. For now, however, any connection remains speculative.
