WNBA Rules Freedom, White Not Eligible: ‘Both Men’

By Sandra Rhodes (/journals/sandra-rhodes)

WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert   said former NBA players Enes Kanter Freedom and Royce White are not eligible in her league because they are "both men.”

Engelbert responded to Republican lawmakers her decision without supplying the definition of "women" that lawmakers had requested.

"With respect to your questions regarding eligibility, only women are eligible to play in the WNBA and the individuals you cite in your letter are both men," Engelbert wrote in her Oct. 16 response. The letter was provided to OutKick by the America First Policy Institute (AFPI), which represents Freedom.

The letter followed a Sept. 17 inquiry from Rep. Marlin Stutzman (R-Ind.) as well as four other House Republicans about eligibility, player safety and confrontations with fans.

Freedom and White previously announced plans to enter the 2027 WNBA Draft, saying they identify as women.

The lawmakers asked how the league defines "women" under Article XIII, Section 1(a) of its collective bargaining agreement. They also asked why the two former NBA players had been deemed ineligible.

That provision of the 2026 agreement states: "Only players who are women are eligible to play in the WNBA." It does not define the term in that eligibility provision.

Stutzman was happy with Engelbert’s statement as it acknowledged there is a distinction based on biological sex.

"The WNBA has just taken the first step in defining what a woman is for the sports community," Stutzman said in a statement. "By clearly labeling Enes Kanter Freedom and Royce White as men they have acknowledged that identifying as a woman does not change basic human biology."

Freedom argued the response left unanswered the central question of what standards the WNBA applies when deciding who qualifies to compete.

"Cathy Engelbert cannot clearly define what a woman is, but she's absolutely certain that I'm a man," Freedom said. "I mean, how does that make sense? Who gets to decide? Who has the authority to determine whether someone is a woman?"

"So if the league is still working through these questions, how can its commissioner be so certain about my eligibility without explaining the standards that she's applying?" he added.

When Freedom was asked if he believed Engelbert had misgendered him, Freedom answered, "Yes, 100%."

"I just want her to respect my identity because I am telling you that I identify as a woman," he said.