A polarizing debate began in the WNBA and beyond after Indiana Fever guard Sophie Cunningham spoke about not wanting transgender athletes in the league last month.
That debate took an even more unusual turn when former NBA player Enes Kanter declared for the 2027 WNBA Draft. Now, a new update has put Kanter back in the spotlight.
Enes Kanter Set To Attend Fever Game After Praising Sophie Cunningham
According to TMZ Sports reporter Michael J. Babcock, Kanter is planning to attend tonight’s Indiana Fever vs. Chicago Sky game, which will also be nationally televised (tip-off at 7 p.m. ET).
“Enes Kanter Freedom is planning to attend Sunday’s Fever vs. Sky @WNBA game in Chicago, per sources. The game will be nationally televised. Enes Freedom has been at the center of the trans debate after declaring for the ’27 WNBA Draft, arguing the league’s own rules would allow him to play by simply identifying as a woman,” Babcock wrote on X.
Enes Kanter Freedom is planning to attend Sunday’s Fever vs. Sky @WNBA game in Chicago, per sources.
The game will be nationally televised.@EnesFreedom has been at the center of the trans debate after declaring for the ’27 WNBA Draft, arguing the league’s own rules would allow… pic.twitter.com/aLzgwalTqn— michael j. babcock (@michaelbabcock) August 23, 2026
The matchup gives him a chance to watch the Fever in person, and his decision to attend is not exactly surprising given his recent comments about Cunningham.
Just a few days ago, Kanter spoke at length about Cunningham. During an interview with the “America First Policy Institute,” he called the Fever guard a role model and praised her for standing by her comments despite the backlash.
“I’m a big fan of [Sophie Cunningham]. Especially when she posted that thing. When she said, ‘I said what I said,’ I was like, ‘This is the player I wanna be like one day… She’s becoming a role model off the court as well… She’s actually pushing people to think,” Kanter said during the interview.
Kanter’s WNBA plans have become one of the biggest talking points in the ongoing debate. He announced his intention to enter the 2027 draft after reviewing what he described as the league’s current eligibility guidelines.
Meanwhile, the WNBA has continued discussing the transgender-athlete issue. The league held a meeting with team presidents and general managers earlier this month, with transgender athletes and the growing online hostility surrounding the debate among the topics discussed.
However, the meeting did not produce an immediate, detailed new eligibility policy. Instead, the league indicated that the conversations would continue as officials work through the issue.
