Two former NBA players declare WNBA eligibility, citing female gender identity, as league convenes task force

Enes Kanter Freedom and Royce White, both former NBA players, announced this month that they identify as women for the purpose of professional basketball and declared their intent to enter the 2027 WNBA draft. Freedom subsequently told reporters he had spoken to additional ex-NBA players prepared to make similar declarations. The announcements followed Indiana Fever guard Sophie Cunningham's July ESPN interview in which she said biological men should not compete in women's sports or access women's locker rooms.

On August 12, the WNBA convened a task force to address transgender athlete eligibility in response to the declarations. The league said in a statement that the meeting "covered a wide range of topics, including ongoing discussions on transgender athletes and the continued hate and vitriol directed at players online," and added that "there are no immediate eligibility matters affecting the WNBA." The league also stated it "strongly denounces the bad-faith efforts to use these topics to demean or marginalize others."

White told Fox News Digital, "I identify as sometimes identifying as a woman for the purpose of basketball," and said he is pushing the league toward clarity on its eligibility rules. He added that he might pursue a discrimination claim if the league declined to admit him. In an August 7 statement, the WNBA said it "embraces justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion" and would "not be used as political pawns."