Enes Kanter did not mince words while calling out reports claiming that he has been officially deemed ineligible for the upcoming WNBA draft. Kanter, who has been at the center of the debate surrounding transgender athletes, declared that he would enter the 2027 WNBA draft earlier this month.
However, recent reports indicate that both Kanter and Royce White have been privately informed they are not eligible for the upcoming draft. Now, the former NBA star has responded to these claims.
‘Fake News’ – Enes Kanter on WNBA Draft Ineligibility Reports
Kanter got into an altercation with Natasha Cloud while attending Sunday’s Indiana Fever vs. Chicago Sky game. Shortly after, reports from Front Office Sports cited a source close to the situation who said that he is ineligible for the WNBA draft.
Kanter responded to the claims on Monday while appearing on a live stream next to Benny Johnson.
“It’s fake news,” he told Johnson. “We’ve not heard anything official from the WNBA yet. I don’t want people to believe any of this. It’s fake news. Don’t believe it. We haven’t heard anything official from the WNBA. But we are waiting to hear what their decision is going to be.”
Front Office Sports’ source reportedly said that the WNBA is “not going to give oxygen to efforts designed to mock the league or use this topic to demean and marginalize others.” FOS’s league source also described Kanter’s declaration as a “simple publicity stunt.”
Enes Kanter Freedom and Royce White are not eligible to play in the WNBA, the league told @FOS today.
The WNBA said the two former NBA players’ attempts to join the league were “simply publicity stunts” and declared it “will not allow outside pressure or manufactured controversy… pic.twitter.com/jKdaAw8fb1
— Pop Base (@PopBase) August 24, 2026
The WNBA has yet to publish an official statement addressing Kanter and Royce White’s eligibility for the draft. The league’s rules state that only women can play in the WNBA, but contain no specific language related to gender assigned at birth.
Kanter cited these same rules when declaring his intent to enter the draft. Despite multiple reports to the contrary, the former NBA center seems determined to play in the WNBA.
During his appearance on “The Ingraham Angle” on Monday, Kanter stated that he identifies as a woman and believes that should be enough to allow his participation in the league.
Kanter has also outlined his plans should he make it to a WNBA court, stating that Angel Reese would be the first player he dunks on. Over the last few weeks, the WNBA has become a cultural battleground, with Kanter and Sophie Cunningham at the center of the discussion.
Kanter’s eligibility is likely to remain up in the air until the league officially comments on the situation.
