Enes Freedom Criticizes WNBA Coach Reeve Over Transgender Athlete Remarks

Former NBA player Enes Freedom has publicly criticized Minnesota Lynx head coach Cheryl Reeve, urging her to resign over remarks Reeve made regarding transgender athletes in women's sports. Freedom rejected Reeve's characterization that advocates for women's sports are motivated by a desire to deny the existence of transgender people.

"Protecting women’s sports is not an attack on anyone’s existence, nor does it erase a community," Freedom stated on social media. He challenged Reeve to "prove it by drafting me in the 2027 WNBA Draft" if she believes her stance is being misrepresented.

Reeve's comments followed the Lynx's regular-season finale against the Indiana Fever. She had stated that the transgender community deserves support and that the ongoing debate surrounding transgender participation in sports is an "attack on all transgender community." Reeve also noted that wearing a "Trans Kids Belong" shirt during a previous game against the Fever had been a meaningful gesture, generating significant communication from individuals and families affected by the issue.

"The amount of communication of people who were affected by something as simple as wearing a T-shirt in support of them and helping them be seen — with the platform that we have in professional sports, it was a small gesture by me," Reeve said. "It’s something I believe in, obviously, wholeheartedly."

This was not the first time Reeve had addressed the issue this season. She previously spoke about it following Supreme Court rulings that upheld state laws protecting women's and girls' sports and defended transgender participation, acknowledging the complexities after puberty.

Freedom previously announced his intention to enter the 2027 WNBA Draft under the name "Enisa Freedom," stating his goal was to test the league's eligibility standards. The WNBA's collective bargaining agreement states that only women are eligible to play, but does not publicly define eligibility based on biological sex. Freedom has asserted his campaign is serious and not intended to demean transgender people, differentiating his approach from what he described as "publicity, political theater, cheap attention, or stunts."

Former NBA player Royce White also responded to Reeve's remarks, employing satire by promoting his female alter ego, "Roysha." White's commentary contrasted with Freedom's more direct rebuttal, focusing on mockery and political satire.

The WNBA has previously stated that there are no immediate transgender eligibility matters affecting the league and condemned "bad-faith efforts" to demean or marginalize others. The league has not had a transgender woman play on its roster.