Former NBA players Enes Kanter Freedom and Royce White have announced their candidacy for the 2027 WNBA draft, with White stating he identifies as a woman for basketball purposes and Kanter Freedom arguing that a self-declaration of identity should meet league requirements. The declarations have intensified a league-wide debate after Indiana Fever guard Sophie Cunningham said in July she wanted to protect young girls from competing against biological men, drawing praise from President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance.
The WNBA's collective bargaining agreement limits eligibility to women, and Commissioner Cathy Engelbert has sent a memo to teams saying the matter will be discussed at an upcoming meeting with team presidents. The WNBPA denounced hate and abuse directed at the transgender community, while Minnesota Lynx coach Cheryl Reeve wore a "Trans Kids Belong" T-shirt in support of transgender athletes.
Seattle Storm co-owner Celeste Keaton was suspended five home games after confronting fans who displayed signs thanking Cunningham. The dispute unfolds against a broader backdrop: the IOC announced in March that women's Olympic events will be restricted to biological females from 2028, and a U.S. executive order bans transgender women from female sports categories at school and grassroots levels.