Former NBA players Enes Kanter Freedom and Royce White are not eligible to participate in the WNBA draft, according to a person familiar with the league's decision. The determination follows public interest from the two athletes in joining the professional women’s basketball league.
The decision comes shortly after an incident on August 24, 2026, where Freedom was ejected from a game between the Indiana Fever and the Chicago Sky. During that event, Freedom was reportedly confronted by Chicago Sky player Natasha Cloud.
Freedom and White both have previous experience playing in the National Basketball Association (NBA). While the specific criteria for the WNBA's eligibility ruling were not detailed in the report, the decision clarifies that these former male professional players will not be included in upcoming draft proceedings.
The scale of this decision impacts the immediate career paths of the two named individuals and sets a clear boundary for other male athletes who may consider similar transitions. Basketball fans and sports institutions will notice that the WNBA rosters remain composed of athletes meeting the league's established gender-based eligibility requirements. This prevents a shift in the competitive landscape that would have occurred if male athletes were permitted to compete for positions within the women's league.
Knock-on effects include the stabilization of the WNBA’s current marketing and player development strategies, which are built around female representation in professional sports. The decision reinforces the current legal and institutional distinction between the NBA and WNBA. What happens next is the continuation of the 2026 WNBA season and preparations for future draft cycles; however, the source did not report specific dates for when formal eligibility challenges might be heard or if the players intend to appeal the decision.