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WNBA makes clear Enes Kanter stance after NBA player claimed to be joining women's league

The WNBA has formally reaffirmed its stance on player eligibility amid ongoing controversy surrounding two former NBA players seeking to join the league. Enes Kanter Freedom and Royce White announced earlier this season they intended to enter the 2027 WNBA Draft, citing their identification as women.

However, WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert directly addressed their eligibility in a recent letter to Congress, stating unequivocally that both players are ineligible because they are 'both men.' The response comes after a congressional inquiry from Rep. Marlin Stutzman and other House Republicans questioned the league’s definition of 'woman' under its collective bargaining agreement and the safety concerns tied to Freedom’s ejection during a Chicago Sky game earlier this year.

Freedom, who has faced legal challenges and public disputes over his eligibility, criticized the WNBA’s position, arguing that the league’s definition of gender remains unclear despite its certainty about his own status as a man.

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Ene Kanter Freedom reacts to WNBA’s decision on men trying to join the league