WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert has stated that former NBA players Enes Kanter Freedom and Royce White are not eligible to compete in the league following their announced plans to enter the 2027 WNBA Draft.
The two former NBA players have challenged the league’s transgender eligibility policies, claiming to identify as women and raising questions about the requirements for participation.
Their statements prompted five Republican members of the U.S. House of Representatives to request clarification from the WNBA regarding its eligibility rules.
In her response to lawmakers, Engelbert stated that neither Kanter nor White qualifies to participate in the league.
“Only women are eligible to play in the WNBA and the individuals you cite in your letter are both men.”
