Enes Kanter Freedom announced on social media that he’s planning to be at Game 3 of the WNBA Finals in Atlanta on Wednesday. He’s heading there as a fan, but anyone who’s been following this knows it’s way more complicated than just buying a ticket. The league itself has totally clammed up, declining to say anything about his potential appearance.
The Last Time Enes Kanter Freedom Showed Up At A WNBA Game, It Blew Up
This isn’t Freedom’s first time at a WNBA game this season, and that’s exactly why his planned attendance is raising eyebrows. Back in late August, he was at a game in Chicago to watch them play Indiana. Things got heated, real fast. He ended up in a full-blown interaction with Sky guard Natasha Cloud, which got him ejected from the game and outright banned from the arena. So yeah, showing up at a Finals game after that? It’s a bold move, to say the least.
Declaring For The Draft, Identifying As A Woman, and Getting Shot Down
Freedom’s presence at these games ties into a much bigger, ongoing conversation. He’s actually declared for the WNBA draft, stating that he identifies as a woman. And he’s not alone, former NBA player Royce White has done the same thing. Freedom even put out a wild quote about his motivation, saying, “As you all know, this all started with an interview featuring Gabby Williams of the Golden State Valkyries, when she said, ‘I have no problem with trans athletes playing on my team or against my team.’ Her words gave me so much hope and motivation to come out as a woman and officially declare for the WNBA Draft. I can’t wait to watch my favorite player, the woman who inspired me to become who I am today!” But here’s the kicker: a person close to the league told The Associated Press in August that both Freedom and White are not eligible for the draft. That’s a pretty clear cut, right?
The WNBA’s CBA, The Debate, and A Whole Lot Of Silence
The whole situation has reignited a massive debate about whether transgender women should be allowed to play in the WNBA. It’s a hot-button issue, and it’s something the league has been navigating. The WNBA’s collective bargaining agreement currently says the league is restricted to women, but it doesn’t get into specifics about gender identity or sex assigned at birth. There’s never been a transgender player in the league, so this is all uncharted territory. And with Freedom showing up at the Finals after being deemed ineligible for the draft and having that past ejection, you can bet all eyes will be on Atlanta on Wednesday. What happens when he walks into that arena, especially after the league itself won’t even comment? This one’s gonna be interesting.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Bleacher Report.
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