WNBA Condemns ‘Bad-Faith’ Transgender Stunts By Former NBA Players, Now Backed By Caitlyn Jenner

The WNBA has rejected attempts by two former NBA players to exploit its gender eligibility policy, as Caitlyn Jenner joins a growing chorus targeting transgender inclusion in women’s basketball.

The WNBA has denounced what it described as “bad-faith efforts” to demean or marginalise others after former NBA players Enes Kanter Freedom and Royce White announced “plans” to enter the women’s league.

Neither man has indicated that he is transgender. Instead, both have claimed they could enter the 2027 WNBA draft by declaring themselves women, statements widely condemned as political stunts targeting transgender people and athletes.

WNBA condemns Freedom and White over transgender statements

“There are no immediate eligibility matters affecting the WNBA, and we strongly denounce the bad-faith efforts to use these topics to demean or marginalize others,” a league spokesperson told the Associated Press on Wednesday.

The statement followed a meeting of the WNBA’s anti-hate task force, comprising team presidents and general managers. The task force reportedly discussed transgender eligibility alongside the increasingly hostile online commentary surrounding the league.

No new eligibility policy was adopted during the meeting.

The WNBA’s policy currently states that “only players who are women are eligible to play in the WNBA,” it does not contain any other specific references that mention and guide policy around either gender identity or rules permitting sex assigned at birth.

There has never been a known transgender woman on a WNBA roster, and the league has said there are no genuine transgender eligibility matters currently before it.

Freedom declares himself for 2027 WNBA draft

Last Friday, former NBA player Enes Kanter Freedom took to social media to comment.

“If simply declaring who you are is all that’s required, then I meet every single requirement necessary to compete in the WNBA,” Freedom wrote on X on August 7.

“Based on the current guidelines, I can and am officially declaring my eligibility for the upcoming WNBA draft in April 2027.”

In a video posted online, Freedom can be seen apparently signing paperwork, implied for drafting to the WNBA, accompanied with dramatic voiceovers making statements about trans women in basketball against footage of him playing and “preparing”; however, he allegedly claimed that he was not mocking trans people.

I’m “definitely not here to mock, make fun of or disrespect any community or personal choices” he previously stated.

He has since teased more content in what is clearly a targeted online campaign, including a sit-down “tell all” interview regarding the issue.

The @WNBA says a woman is anyone who claims to be one.

So if I say I’m a woman, you have to accept it.

Those are the rules the #WNBA created.

Why does anyone get to decide whose journey is real and whose isn’t?

Who gets to judge?

Rules Are Rules!#LetFreedomPlay pic.twitter.com/aDY1YElaaz

— Enes Kanter FREEDOM (@EnesFreedom) August 12, 2026

Royce White follows Freedom’s lead

Following the announcement by Freedom, former NBA player Royce White, also announced that he would be is seeking to participate in the WNBA. White is currently running for the U.S. Senate in Minnesota. He dropped a series of statements and videos online, all clearly making a deliberate mockery of trans people.

“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,“ White told Fox News. “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,” he continued.

White also said that he doesn’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.”

White has raised the prospect of a major legal battle if he is prevented from playing.

He has also appeared online wearing a blonde wig, writing, “This is my feminine era glow up, did I slay? If y’all don’t “yassss queen” you’re transphobic. I really don’t understand all the hatred, I just want to play some hoops with my fellow ladies.”

It came y’all… My 1st wig! Tomorrow I test it on the court. This is my feminine era glow up, did I slay? If y’all don’t “yassss queen” you’re transphobic. I really don’t understand all the hatred, I just want to play some hoops with my fellow ladies. 💅🏽

Royce White for U.S.… pic.twitter.com/I98XCP6TFh

— Royce White 🇺🇸 (@Highway_30) August 9, 2026

Caitlyn Jenner endorses players’ actions

Freedom and White’s actions have been endorsed by Caitlyn Jenner, the transgender former Olympian and conservative media commentator, who has once again offered a divisive opinion on the situation. Jenner has repeatedly supported restrictions preventing transgender women and girls from competing in women’s and girls’ sport.

Jenner made another appearance on Fox News where she supported the players and stated that they were “showing the hypocrisy of what’s going on out there in the WNBA.”

“XX, you’re in; XY, you’re out. It’s that simple,” she  said, adding that “We have to protect women’s sports.”