Enes Kanter Freedom has directed his attention toward Angel Reese, calling the Atlanta Dream forward the “Paul George of the #WNBA” in his ongoing social media campaign to enter the 2027 WNBA Draft. Kanter Freedom’s bid, which challenges the league’s eligibility rules regarding transgender participation, has increasingly drawn attention from current WNBA players.
Kanter Freedom’s latest remarks came after Reese missed a potential game-winning putback in the final seconds of the Atlanta Dream’s overtime loss to the Indiana Fever on Sunday. Despite the miss, Reese recorded 15 points, 14 rebounds, and six assists in the game.
“Sis! Once I go No. 1 pick in the 2027 @WNBA Draft, the first player I’m dunking on is Angel Reese,” Kanter Freedom wrote on X. “She’s the Paul George of the #WNBA. Just lean into the podcast already.” The comparison to Paul George alludes to the nine-time NBA All-Star’s increased focus on his “Podcast P” show as his playing career has progressed.
The former NBA center announced his intention to declare for the 2027 WNBA Draft earlier this month, stating his belief that the league’s gender eligibility rules should allow him to participate if he identifies as a woman. Former NBA player Royce White has also joined Kanter Freedom in this endeavor.
The WNBA has not acknowledged Kanter Freedom’s interpretation of its rules. The league’s collective bargaining agreement states that only women are eligible to play, without further defining eligibility based on gender identity or sex assigned at birth. The WNBA has previously addressed the issue, with league executives discussing the subject in a meeting of the WNBA’s anti-hate task force. The league stated at the time that there were “no immediate eligibility matters” affecting the WNBA and condemned “bad-faith efforts” to demean or marginalize individuals.
The controversy has become more pronounced following public statements from Indiana Fever guard Sophie Cunningham regarding transgender women in sports. Kanter Freedom, however, continues to treat his hypothetical WNBA career as if it is already in progress, having previously joked about forming a dominant pairings with players like Caitlin Clark.