Enes Kanter Freedom has spent years using his platform to weigh in on the debate over transgender athletes in women’s sports, and on Thursday, he took that argument to its most literal extreme yet. The former NBA center announced he is putting his name forward for a league he has never played in.
What Did Enes Kanter Freedom Say?
Kanter Freedom took to X to declare himself eligible for the WNBA. He linked the announcement to the league’s policies on inclusion and self-identification. This comes at the same time as the ongoing debate sparked by Indiana Fever guard Sophie Cunningham’s comments on transgender athletes.
After careful consideration and reviewing the current eligibility guidelines,
I’m officially declaring myself a @WNBA prospect.If simply declaring who you are is all that’s required, then I meet every single requirement necessary to compete in the WNBA.
My team and I have… pic.twitter.com/msncUZUT1J
— Enes Kanter FREEDOM (@EnesFreedom) August 7, 2026
“After careful consideration and reviewing the current eligibility guidelines, I’m officially declaring myself a WNBA prospect,” Kanter Freedom wrote. “If simply declaring who you are is all that’s required, then I meet every single requirement necessary to compete in the WNBA. My team and I have carefully examined the WNBA’s eligibility criteria and governing framework surrounding self-identification and inclusion.”
Kanter Freedom also mentioned that he would be declaring for the upcoming WNBA Draft, which will be held in April 2027.
The former Boston Celtics center admitted that his presence in the WNBA would certainly attract plenty of attention and differentiating opinions from the sports world, but he reassured that his message was not intended to mock the league or anyone else.
“I know my presence on the court will stir up strong opinions. I am definitely not here to mock, make fun of, or disrespect any community or personal choices. I’m simply asking that the current rules be applied equally to everyone, the rules that represent the very values many WNBA players and coaches have publicly advocated for,” he said.
“My team and I are prepared to ensure these guidelines are applied equally, consistently, and without exception, and I look forward to the WNBA honoring its stated principles. See you at training camp,” Kanter Freedom concluded.
This is not the first time Kanter Freedom has floated the idea of joining the WNBA to make a political point. In 2023, he suggested he could “put on a wig, identify as a woman and start dominating the WNBA.”
That comment drew widespread reaction at the time, and it also led to a Fox News appearance in which he claimed he could average 60 points and 30 rebounds per game if allowed to play.
Thursday’s post arrives amid a larger national conversation than his earlier comments did, following weeks of controversy tied to Cunningham’s remarks, including rallies outside multiple Fever road games and public statements from WNBA coaches and players on the topic.
The league has not issued any response to Kanter Freedom’s announcement, and there is no indication that the center, who last played in the NBA in 2022, intends to actually pursue a roster spot.
