Enes Kanter Freedom has escalated his protest against WNBA eligibility rules by asserting he has spoken with eight players interested in entering the 2027 WNBA Draft. Freedom, a former NBA center, stated on social media that these individuals would consider declaring for the draft if the league does not provide clearer eligibility standards.
Freedom's strategy centers on the financial disparity between professional basketball leagues. He claimed that male players could potentially earn an additional $1,355,000 annually by identifying as women and entering the WNBA, contrasting this with the reported $45,000 salary in the NBA G League and the $1.4 million earned by top WNBA players. "Rules are rules," Freedom stated in a video posted to X.
According to Freedom, the group includes two former NBA players, three G-League players, and three European players. He indicated that these individuals are prepared to "join the movement" and consider entering the 2027 draft if the WNBA does not revise its rules. Freedom himself has previously announced his intention to enter the 2027 WNBA Draft, a move echoed by former NBA player Royce White.
Freedom's campaign aims to compel the WNBA to explicitly define its eligibility criteria. The league has previously responded to similar efforts, labeling arguments that mock or marginalize others as being "in bad faith."