Enes Kanter Freedom, a former NBA player, has declared his intention to enter the 2027 WNBA Draft and has singled out Angel Reese as his first target.
Freedom, who is 6ft 10in and played 11 seasons in the NBA, announced his decision amid ongoing debates about transgender athlete participation in sports. He stated he has reviewed the current eligibility guidelines and plans to proceed with entering the draft.
Following a recent overtime loss by the Atlanta Dream, featuring Angel Reese, to the Indiana Fever, Freedom posted on X (formerly Twitter): "Sis! Once I go No. 1 pick in the 2027 @WNBA Draft, the first player I'm dunking on is Angel Reese. She's the Paul George of the #WNBA. Just lean into the podcast already."
The post also made a jab at nine-time NBA All-Star Paul George, suggesting his association with his podcast has overshadowed his on-court performance.
Freedom has also claimed to have sent a letter to WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert, formally notifying the league of his voluntary decision to enter the player pool for the 2027 draft. The letter reportedly stated he meets the age and intercollegiate eligibility requirements outlined in the league's collective bargaining agreement.
In an accompanying video, Freedom declared, "It's officially official. I just declared for the 2027 WNBA Draft in April. Join me in this journey."
The WNBA has been addressing discussions around athlete eligibility. WNBA general managers and presidents met as part of an anti-hate task force to discuss the subject. The league determined that there were no immediate issues with its eligibility criteria and announced that "no immediate eligibility matters affecting" the WNBA were present at this time.
Earlier in August, Indiana Fever player Sophie Cunningham reportedly commented on protecting young girls from "biological men" in sports, adding to the league's ongoing conversations about athlete inclusion.