Enes Kanter Freedom has refuted reports claiming he will be ineligible to play in the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA), calling them "fake news." Several outlets reported Monday that the ex-NBA center would not be permitted to enter the league's draft, with a source telling Front Office Sports that the WNBA would not "give oxygen to efforts designed to mock the league or use this topic to demean and marginalize others."
However, Freedom told The Post that he has not received any notification from league officials regarding his ineligibility. "I haven’t heard anything from the WNBA officials yet," he stated. "Fake News!"
Freedom, alongside former NBA player Royce White, declared themselves women and eligible for the WNBA draft. This action has emerged amid ongoing discussions about the participation of transgender athletes in women's sports.
A league source described Freedom and White's declarations as "simply publicity stunts" to Front Office Sports. The WNBA has become a focal point in cultural debates, particularly after Indiana Fever player Sophie Cunningham's July interview with ESPN, where she expressed a desire "to protect young girls in a locker room, or young girls in sport who shouldn’t have to go against biological men."
Earlier, Freedom was removed from Wintrust Arena after a verbal altercation with Chicago Sky star Natasha Cloud during a game. Freedom was wearing a shirt that read, "WOMAN noun. adult human female."
Freedom alleged that Cloud shouted at him during the incident. He later addressed the situation on Fox News, denying any intention to engage with Cunningham, who was mentioned by Cloud during their exchange.