The WNBA is facing an unexpected test of its eligibility rules after two former NBA players announced plans to enter the 2027 WNBA Draft while challenging the league to explain exactly what qualifies someone to play in the women’s league.
Former NBA players Enes Kanter Freedom and Royce White have thrust the issue into the spotlight by declaring themselves eligible under the WNBA’s current rules. Their moves have prompted Commissioner Cathy Engelbert to notify teams that league executives will take a closer look at the controversy.
Engelbert sent a memo to teams Friday acknowledging that transgender participation in women’s sports is likely to remain a major source of public debate. Rather than offering an immediate definition of eligibility, she characterized the issue as “complex and nuanced.”
