WNBA Disqualifies ‘Men’ From Playing but Still Can’t Define What a ‘Woman’ Is

The Women’s National Basketball Association declared two former male professional basketball players ineligible to join the league because they aren’t women. However, the league did not provide a definition of “woman” in its announcement. 

While responding to an inquiry from several members of Congress about player safety and the league’s definition of a woman, WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert stated in an Oct. 16 letter, “only women are eligible to play in the WNBA and the individuals you cite in your letter are both men.” The dispute stems from August, when former National Basketball Association players Enes Kanter Freedom and Royce White said they identified as women and were thus eligible to enter the WNBA’s 2027 Draft.  

Announcing Engelbert’s decision on X, Kanter Freedom said in a Tuesday post, “Apparently, the WNBA still can’t define what a WOMAN is, but they’re absolutely certain they know what a MAN is! How convenient!” 

“WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert has declared that I am a man,” he added. “Who gave her the authority to decide who I am? Who gets to define my identity? And how can the WNBA determine who is a man without explaining what qualifies someone as a woman” 

The league’s collective bargaining agreement states that “only women are eligible to play in the WNBA.” Kanter Freedom and others have used this verbiage to highlight the league’s lack of clarity and narrow player eligibility to biological women. 

Over the summer, multiple WNBA players, coaches, and associations addressed the possibility of trans-identifying athletes entering women’s basketball.  

Kanter Freedom pointed to WNBA player Gabriella Williams’ statement that she “would welcome any trans athlete on my team or against my team anytime” as motivation for his actions.  

In an August post announcing his intent to enter the league, he wrote on X, “if simply declaring who you are is all that’s required, then I meet every single requirement necessary to compete in the WNBA.” 

Shortly after, the WNBA players’ association released a statement on social media condemning the stunt.  

“We embrace justice equity, diversity, and inclusion,” the statement read. “Those are the values that unite this Union and allow it to protect women’s sports while creating transformational change. Hate, abuse, and demonization of any person or group of people, including transgender people, only fuel fear, division, and harm. We will continue to have hard conversations. But we will not be used as political pawns.” 

Rep. Marlin Stutzman, one of the lawmakers who wrote the September letter, told OutKick that the WNBA’s denial of eligibility was “the first step in defining what a woman is for the sports community.” 

“By clearly labeling Enes Kanter Freedom and Royce White as men,” he continued, “they have acknowledged that identifying as a woman does not change basic human biology.” 

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