Caitlyn Jenner has voiced support for former NBA players Enes Kanter Freedom and Royce White, who have stated their intentions to enter the 2027 WNBA draft to challenge the league's transgender participation policies. Jenner, a transgender woman and former Olympic gold medalist, told Fox News that Kanter Freedom and White are effectively exposing a "hypocrisy" within the WNBA.
Jenner criticized WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert's statements on the matter, quoting her as saying the league is still discussing its trans issue and has not reached a conclusion. Jenner asserted that the league's stance should be clear: "XX, you’re in. XY, you’re out. It’s that simple." She emphasized the importance of protecting women's sports, calling Title IX "one of the greatest legislations for women’s equality."
The debate intensified following an interview with WNBA player Sophie Cunningham, who stated her aim to "protect young girls" from "biological men." Cunningham's comments reportedly sparked rallies in support of her position at her games.
Kanter Freedom posted a video of himself signing a document to enter the 2027 WNBA Draft pool, later sharing a workout video with the caption "Let ‘The Transition’ to the @WNBA begin. Rules Are Rules! #LetFreedomPlay."
Royce White, a Republican candidate for U.S. Senate, announced his intention to declare for the draft shortly after Kanter Freedom. White described himself as "transgender" and a "woman," stating he identifies as a woman for the purpose of professional basketball.
Following these developments, the WNBA convened an anti-hate task force comprising general managers and presidents. The task force concluded that there were "no immediate eligibility matters affecting" the league. A WNBA spokesperson stated, "We strongly denounce the bad-faith efforts to use these topics to demean or marginalize others."
WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert previously communicated in a memo that the league approaches the topic of transgender athlete participation "thoughtfully, respectfully, and in alignment with the longstanding values of our league." She also noted that the WNBA's player eligibility rules are "collectively bargained."