Enes Kanter Freedom and Royce White declaring for the 2027 WNBA Draft has caused a storm that does not look like it will calm down anytime soon.
Now, basketball legend Cheryl Miller has entered the conversation, and she has made it clear that she has little interest in entertaining the controversy.
Cheryl Miller’s Recent Comment Regarding Enes Kanter Freedom and Royce White
Miller was recently approached by TMZ at Los Angeles International Airport and was asked about the situation involving Kanter Freedom and White. Rather than giving the two former NBA players attention, Miller suggested that she does not want to spend her time or energy on the issue.
“I’m not giving them, those two, in particular, a whole lot of thought, because there’s outsiders looking to hijack our network. It’s horrible energy. It’s horrible energy,” Miller said, as per TMZ.
The basketball legend also explained that before the situation turned into a public dispute, she would have had no problem welcoming either player to a WNBA game. However, after seeing how they have approached the league and its rules, her position has changed.
“I would have loved to see these two sitting courtside, you know, watching the game 30 years ago, 20 years ago, 5 years ago, 5 minutes ago. But now all of a sudden, y’all got a collective think tank? Man, shut that noise up,” Miller added.
The controversy has also put the league’s collective bargaining agreement in the spotlight. The current CBA states that only women are eligible to play in the WNBA. However, the wording has been criticized for not clearly explaining every circumstance surrounding transgender athletes.
That lack of clarity is now at the center of Kanter Freedom and White’s challenge. By declaring for the 2027 WNBA Draft, the former NBA players have drawn attention to a section of the league’s rules that does not appear to spell out the eligibility process in great detail.
The WNBA is expected to discuss its CBA this week, which could allow the league and the players’ association to make the language more specific. Any new wording could address the circumstances under which a transgender athlete might become eligible.
The debate has already attracted reactions from several sports personalities. Recently, Stephen A. Smith has also criticized the league for leaving such an obvious opening in its rules.
“How come you didn’t write in your language those born female? How come you didn’t make that clear? You can deny them entry, you can refuse to draft them, but you’re going to open yourself up to potential legal action until you clarify what the hell is going on,” Smith said during August 10’s broadcast of the “Stephen A. Smith” show.
While the CBA debate is likely to continue, Miller appears to have already made her position clear.
