The Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) is planning to hold meetings with players’ association, league leaders, including team presidents and general managers, to discuss the controversy regarding former NBA stars declaring for the 2027 WNBA draft.
The WNBA Commissioner, Cathy Engelbert, disclosed this in a memo to the WNBA Players’ Association, in a move to address the gender controversy which will impact future WNBA drafts.
The memo followed weeks of controversy after Indiana Fever star, Sophie Cunningham, granted ESPN a wide-ranging interview, where she she said the WNBA should block biological males from participation.
Mrs Engelbert, in the memo said, “I wanted to reach out to share how we are approaching these conversations at the league office and to thank those of you who have responded to questions from the media with thoughtfulness and professionalism.
“We recognize that this is a complex and nuanced topic, and we will continue to have important conversations with all of you and the Players Association in the weeks and months ahead.
“Our player eligibility rules, unlike the eligibility rules of some other leagues and governing bodies, are collectively bargained. Lastly, preserving the integrity of our game and ensuring fair competition will always remain among the league’s highest priorities.”
The memo by Mrs Engelbert was also in response to the declarations by two former NBA players, Royce White and Enes Kanter Freedom, who identified as transgender, and declared for the 2027 WNBA draft, insisting that eligibility rules allow it.
Royce, a former Houston Rocket’s star, told OutKick/Fox News Digital, that he would ensure his inclusion into the draft, except the WNBA management makes a definite decision to rule him out.
He said, “I’m transgender. I’m a woman. I identify as sometimes identifying as a woman for purpose of basketball, professional basketball, so I’ll be declaring for the WNBA draft in 2027 as well. I think the WNBA could come out and make a definitive statement about guys with a pair of balls playing in the Women’s Association.”
Now a politician, the 35-year-old Republican nominee who lost to Democratic senator, Amy Klobuchar, at the general election in 2024, and on the ballot in Minnesota’s August 11 Republican primary for the U.S. Senate, however threatened legal consequences if he was discriminated against or undrafted in the upcoming WNBA draft.
He said, “I don’t want to be discriminated against. I want fair treatment. I’m a young Black, hopefully United States Senator that would like a fair chance to participate as a sometimes-identifying-as-a-transgender-woman athlete. I have to file a discrimination lawsuit, right? I mean, that’s ridiculous. We’re gonna have to have a huge legal battle about discrimination if I can’t play.”
White’s announcement followed the declaration on X, on Friday, by former Boston Celtics and Portland Trail Blazers player, Enes Kanter Freedom, who claimed that, based on the WNBA’s eligibility criteria and its approach to self-identification and inclusion, he is qualified to compete in the WNBA.
Freedom said, “After careful consideration and reviewing the current eligibility guidelines, I’m officially declaring myself a @WNBA prospect. If simply declaring who you are is all that’s required, then I meet every single requirement necessary to compete in the WNBA.
“My team and I have carefully examined the WNBA’s eligibility criteria and governing framework surrounding self-identification and inclusion. Based on the current guidelines, I can and am officially declaring my eligibility for the upcoming WNBA draft in April 2027.
“I know my presence on the court will stir up strong opinions. I am definitely not here to mock, make fun of, or disrespect any community or personal choices. I’m simply asking that the current rules be applied equally to everyone — the rules that represent the very values many WNBA players and coaches have publicly advocated for. My team and I are prepared to ensure these guidelines are applied equally, consistently, and without exception, and I look forward to the #WNBA honoring its stated principles.”
Following both declarations, the WNBA reacted to the gender controversy, saying, “We embrace justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion. Hate, abuse, and demonization of any person or group of people, including transgender people, only fuel fear, division, and harm. We will continue to have hard conversations. But we will not be used as political pawns.”
While Article XIII of the league’s 2026 collective bargaining agreement stated that “only players who are women are eligible to play in the WNBA,” the 409-page agreement failed to define “women” or outline any policy governing transgender or intersex eligibility, neither did it say self-identification makes one eligible.
