League insiders told CNN that former NBA players Enes Kanter Freedom and Royce White will not be allowed to enter the 2027 WNBA draft. Both athletes announced last month that they now identify as women and expressed a desire to join the women’s professional basketball league.

Eligibility denied by the league

According to the sources, the WNBA has no immediate eligibility issues that require action, and the players’ draft declarations were dismissed as publicity stunts intended to mock the league and stir controversy. The league’s stance is that it will address broader questions about gender eligibility and transgender inclusion thoughtfully, in consultation with players, teams and the players’ union.

Recent incident at a game

Freedom was ejected from a recent Indiana Fever versus Chicago Sky game at Wintrust Arena after a heated exchange with Sky guard Natasha Cloud. Freedom was seated along the baseline wearing a shirt that displayed a definition of a woman, and he later posted on X, “It’s always women hating on other women.” No formal disciplinary ruling or game ban has been announced.

Context of the debate

The situation comes amid a national conversation about gender eligibility policies in women’s sports. To date, no transgender women have played in the WNBA, and the league has indicated it will not allow outside pressure or manufactured controversy to dictate its internal processes.

League’s planned approach

The WNBA said it intends to engage with its primary stakeholders—players, teams and the union—to consider the broader topic in a measured way. The league emphasized that it will not respond to efforts it views as attempts to demean others or create division.

While the two former NBA players have attracted media attention, the league’s current position remains that they are not eligible for the upcoming draft and that any future policy changes will be handled through established channels.

Original reporting: KTVZ (Central Oregon) — read the source article.