WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert Faces Challenge After Two Former NBA Players Declare for Draft
The WNBA is facing a direct challenge to its women-only eligibility language after former NBA players Enes Kanter Freedom and Royce White declared themselves eligible for the 2027 WNBA Draft by identifying as women. Their move has pushed the league to explain what its rule actually means.
Commissioner Cathy Engelbert sent a memo to teams Friday. The Associated Press obtained it. In the memo, Engelbert acknowledged transgender (biological male) participation will continue to draw “significant attention,” while describing it as a “complex and nuanced topic.”
Engelbert wrote that the league will “always approach this topic thoughtfully, respectfully, and in alignment with the longstanding values of our league.” She also pointed to the collective bargaining process, saying player eligibility rules are collectively bargained. She added that “preserving the integrity of our game and ensuring fair competition will always remain among the league’s highest priorities.”
The league plans to keep discussing the issue. A task force made up of team presidents and general managers is scheduled to address it at a meeting next week. More “listening sessions” are also planned. Those steps come as the wording of the current rule faces renewed scrutiny from outside the league.
The collective bargaining agreement states that “only players who are women are eligible to play in the WNBA.” But it does not define “women.” It also contains no clear language about sex assigned at birth or gender identity, and the league has not released a detailed public policy on transgender eligibility. That gap is central to the challenge from Freedom and White.
Freedom, who is 6-foot-10, announced Friday that he was declaring himself a WNBA prospect after reviewing what he described as the league’s eligibility framework. “If simply declaring who you are is all that’s required, then I meet every single requirement necessary to compete in the WNBA,” Freedom said.
Freedom said he was not trying to disrespect transgender people. Instead, he argued that the rule should be applied “equally, consistently, and without exception.” Hours later, White, a former NBA first-round pick, announced a similar challenge. He said he plans to enter the 2027 draft unless the WNBA makes a “definitive statement” that people born male cannot participate.