{"id":1022224,"date":"2026-08-25T02:22:16","date_gmt":"2026-08-25T02:22:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/1022224\/"},"modified":"2026-08-25T02:22:16","modified_gmt":"2026-08-25T02:22:16","slug":"enes-kanter-freedom-royce-white-not-eligible-for-wnba","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/1022224\/","title":{"rendered":"Enes Kanter Freedom, Royce White not eligible for WNBA"},"content":{"rendered":"

Former NBA players Enes Kanter Freedom and Royce White will not be eligible to play in the WNBA after both declared themselves women and eligible for the next draft, league sources told Front Office Sports<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The recent declarations of Freedom and White are \u201csimply publicity stunts\u201d and the league is \u201cnot going to give oxygen to efforts designed to mock the league or use this topic to demean and marginalize others,\u201d one league source said.<\/p>\n

The WNBA \u201cwill not allow outside pressure or manufactured controversy to dictate league processes,\u201d the source said.<\/p>\n

Former NBA player Enes Kanter Freedom looks on during the second half of a game between the Chicago Sky and the Indiana Fever at Wintrust Arena in Chicago, Illinois, on Sunday, August 23, 2026. Getty Images<\/p>\n

In response, Freedom told The Post\u2019s Stefan Bondy: \u201cI haven\u2019t heard anything from the WNBA officials yet. Fake News!\u201d<\/p>\n

The league reportedly will continue to discuss the topic, though it does not have any legitimate and immediate eligibility matters that require action.<\/p>\n

The decision came after Freedom was kicked out of Wintrust Arena on Sunday night over a verbal altercation<\/a> with Chicago Sky guard Natasha Cloud.<\/p>\n

The WNBA\u2019s new collective bargaining agreement in Article XIII, Section 1(a), states: \u201cOnly players who are women are eligible to play in the WNBA.\u201d The CBA, agreed upon in March, does not include any language around gender identity or gender assigned at birth.<\/p>\n

No known transgender woman has played in the WNBA.<\/p>\n

Former basketball player Enes Kanter Freedom watches Sophie Cunningham of the Indiana Fever courtside during the first half against the Chicago Sky at Wintrust Arena on Sunday, August 23, 2026, in Chicago, Illinois. Getty Images<\/p>\n

Freedom, who played 11 seasons in the NBA, has turned to political activism in recent years.<\/p>\n

He and White, twice an unsuccessful Republican candidate for the U.S. Senate, declared earlier this month their eligibility for the 2027 draft<\/a> amid debates regarding transgender athletes in women\u2019s sports.<\/p>\n

Royce White, a Republican candidate for U.S. Senate, speaks during a forum with his opponents at Farmfest on Wednesday, August 5, 2026, in Morgan, Minn. AP Photo\/Ellen Schmidt<\/p>\n

It came after Indiana Fever guard Sophie Cunningham voiced support for barring transgender athletes from girls and women\u2019s sports in an ESPN article published in July<\/a>, which sparked a larger conversation and pro- and anti-trans rallies before games.<\/p>\n

Freedom, who sat courtside at the Sky-Fever game, got into a verbal altercation with Cloud during a timeout called in the third quarter.<\/p>\n

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Enes Kanter Freedom was removed from the arena after getting into an argument with Chicago Sky guard Natasha Cloud \ud83d\ude33<\/p>\n

\u2013 he recently declared for the 2026 WNBA Draft after formerly playing in the NBA. pic.twitter.com\/TMrrSlwsSA<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 ryan \ud83e\udd3f (@scubaryan_) August 24, 2026<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Freedom was wearing a black T-shirt that read, \u201cWOMAN noun. adult human female.\u201d<\/p>\n

Cloud, who is vocal in her support of trans athletes in women\u2019s sports, walked toward Freedom and shouted at him as he stood with his arms outstretched.<\/p>\n

Chicago Sky guard Natasha Cloud (9) yells at Enes Kanter Freedom during the second half against the Indiana Fever at Wintrust Arena on Sunday, August 23, 2026, in Chicago, Illinois. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect<\/p>\n

As he walked toward the court, Freedom was stopped by security and escorted out of the arena.<\/p>\n

A spokesperson for Wintrust Arena told TMZ<\/a> that \u201cdecisions regarding reprimanding or banning would be the purview of the WNBA.\u201d<\/p>\n

The league has not announced a ban on Freedom from attending future games as of Monday.<\/p>\n

Enes Kanter Freedom reacts as he is removed from Wintrust Arena during the second half of a game against the Indiana Fever on Sunday, August 23, 2026, in Chicago, Illinois. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect<\/p>\n

A Chicago police spokesperson said there have been no reports filed regarding the incident, per TMZ.<\/p>\n

\u201cI just got kicked out of a @WNBA game for supporting WOMEN!\u201d Freedom wrote on social media<\/a> Sunday night. \u201cLet that sink in, AMERICA!\u201d<\/p>\n

Cloud did not speak to the media after the Sky\u2019s 113-90 loss to the Fever.<\/p>\n

A Sky spokesperson told FOS that Cloud spoke to league and team security.<\/p>\n

The WNBA released a statement<\/a> after discussing transgender athletes and \u201cthe continued hate and vitriol directed at players online\u201d in a meeting earlier this month.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe will continue to engage all league stakeholders in the coming weeks and months,\u201d the league said. \u201cWe will approach these important conversations thoughtfully and in alignment with the values of our league. There are no immediate eligibility matters affecting the WNBA, and we strongly denounce the bad-faith efforts to use these topics to demean or marginalize others.\u201d<\/p>\n

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