Enes Kanter Freedom’s announcement ahead of the 2027 WNBA Draft put the league’s selection process under the spotlight. But behind the controversy lies a much more interesting question: Can anyone who declares for the Draft actually make it to Draft night, and what happens if a player is eventually selected?
The answer lies in a process that is much more limited than it may seem.
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The WNBA Draft has very few spots
Unlike some other major professional drafts, the WNBA Draft consists of three rounds with 12 selections each, meaning there are only 36 picks available each year. However, reaching one of those selections first requires meeting a series of eligibility conditions that determine who can take part in the process.
Once a player meets the eligibility requirements, it is up to the teams to decide whom they want to select. The draft order also has a particular element: teams with the worst records have better odds of receiving the top picks through the Draft Lottery.
What happens if a player is not selected?
This is one of the lesser-known parts of the Draft: declaring does not mean being selected. Even for players who go undrafted, the path to a professional opportunity does not necessarily end there.
Players who are not selected can pursue other routes toward joining the league, while teams continue evaluating talent and making decisions as they build their rosters.
The Draft ends, but the battle is just beginning
After making their selections, teams still have difficult decisions to make during training camp.
That is where the so-called “roster squeeze” comes into play, creating one of the toughest situations for young players trying to establish themselves in professional basketball.
A player can be good enough to hear her name called on Draft night and still find herself competing weeks later to keep a spot on the roster.
In other words, hearing your name called on Draft night does not automatically guarantee a place on a WNBA roster for the season.
What does this mean for Enes Kanter Freedom?
Although Kanter has already submitted his intent to enter the 2027 Draft and his candidacy has sparked controversy, his path through the process is still to be determined. His case could move forward as the relevant conditions are met and evaluated, potentially taking him all the way to the Draft, but for now, there is no certainty that he will reach that stage or what place he could ultimately have in the WNBA.