FETÖ-linked Enes Kanter knocks on the door of the Women's League

Former NBA player Enes Kanter, who uses the name Enes Freedom in the U.S. and is linked to FETÖ, has made a controversial move regarding the women's basketball league, the WNBA. Kanter announced that he plans to enter the 2027 WNBA draft alongside former NBA player Royce White.

Kanter's statement came at a time when debates in the U.S. over the place of transgender athletes in women's sports have intensified. Kanter, who played in the NBA for 11 seasons and left the league in 2022, argued in a social media post that he “meets all the necessary requirements” under the WNBA's current rules.

Kanter claimed that while league rules specify that only female players are included, transgender women are not explicitly excluded. Stating, “You just have to declare who you are,” Kanter asserted that his initiative was not targeting any community, adding, “I am not here to mock, make fun of, or disrespect any community or personal choices.”

Royce White also made a similar move, announcing that he would enter the 2027 WNBA draft. In a statement to Fox News, White said, “When it comes to basketball, sometimes I identify as a woman.”

WNBA RESPONDS WITHOUT NAMING NAMES

The WNBA's collective bargaining agreement states that only “players who are women” may participate in the league. However, it is reported that the current text does not contain a provision that explicitly prohibits the participation of transgender women in the league.

In a statement issued without directly naming Kanter and White, the league management reported that there is currently no urgent player eligibility issue affecting the WNBA. The statement further added, “We strongly condemn malicious attempts to use these issues to demean or marginalize others.”

The move by the two former NBA players has also sparked debate in the U.S. and Canadian sports communities. Some commentators viewed the initiative as a political demonstration conducted through the WNBA and transgender athletes. Daniel Sailofsky from the Department of Sports Management at Toronto York University also argued that the move by Kanter and White was not coincidental and carried political motives.

The background of the debate also includes comments made by Indiana Fever player Sophie Cunningham regarding transgender athletes. Cunningham had stated that young girls in women's sports “should not have to compete against biological males.”

In the U.S., the issue has moved beyond the realm of sports in recent years and has turned into a political topic. Under an executive order signed by President Donald Trump in 2025, it was stipulated that federal funding would be cut for schools that allow transgender women and girls to compete on women's teams. The NCAA, which governs college sports, had also moved to implement a regulation limiting competitions in women's categories to biologically female athletes.