Ex-NBA star who rocked WNBA by declaring for draft reveals plan to attend Fever game… as trans drama threatens to spiral out of control
Enes Kanter Freedom, the 6-foot-10 ex-NBA player with ambitions to play in the WNBA, has decided the next move in his contentious draft plan.
As controversy continues to swirl in the league’s ongoing trans war, the former Knicks and Celtics star has revealed he will be in attendance for the Fever’s game against the Chicago Sky on Sunday.
His appearance at the game – which will be televised nationally across America – will mark the first time he has been courtside since announcing his bombshell plan to try and circumvent the league’s policy on trans athletes to declare for the 2027 Draft.
TMZ first reported Kanter’s plan to travel to the Wintrust Arena in Chicago on Sunday night, adding that he has taken ‘major security measures’ to ensure his safety from pro-trans protestors at the game.
It is as yet unclear whether the Sky or Fever are aware of his plan to attend, or whether he will be allowed inside the arena. The Daily Mail has reached out to both teams for comment.
Kanter Freedom also made an exclusive appearance on Lara Trump’s Fox News show on Saturday night, doubling down on his plans to play in the WNBA and insisting he would be the ‘best draft pick’ in league history.
Enes Kanter Freedom appeared on Fox News to discuss his plans to play in the WNBA
Freedom’s decision comes amid the WNBA’s bitter culture war, that is continuing to rage on
‘I played basketball in the NBA for 11 years. I averaged a double-double and it was an amazing time, I had so much fun with my teammates. I love the game and I’m ready to play, I’m prepared to play.
‘I know I’m 34 years old, but I think I will be the best draft pick in WNBA history, literally.’
When asked about the league’s ongoing discussions about its transgender policy, he added: ‘There’s other major sports leagues that closed that loophole, added “biological female” or “born female” in their collective bargaining [agreement].
‘I looked at the WNBA and they didn’t have any kind of reference that said biological or anything like that.
‘I was watching this game and I believe the coach of Minnesota [Cheryl Reeve] came out with a “trans kids belong” [shirt]. So I was like, if there’s no rule against this, if all the coaches are okay with it, think about how much money I can bring, all the endorsement deals.’
The WNBA’s culture war has been raging on for weeks, and Saturday night saw yet more protests ahead of the Fever’s game against the New York Liberty in Brooklyn.
Fever guard Sophie Cunningham first lit the touchpaper on the issue when she spoke about ‘protecting young girls’ in women’s sports in a profile for ESPN, embroiling the league in a fierce debate over transgender athletes.
The ex-Knicks and Celtics star says Cheryl Reeve’s t-shirt helped him make his decision
In a clip on X last month, Enes Freedom announced his decision to declare for the WNBA Draft
Her comments sparked backlash around the WNBA, while some of her supporters raised concerns over their treatment at recent games.
Following Cunningham’s comments, two former NBA players, Kanter Freedom and Royce White, have seized upon the issue as a chance to make a political point. Both have announced plans to enter the 2027 WNBA Draft, challenging the league’s transgender eligibility policy.
The WNBA’s collective bargaining agreement states only women are eligible to play. But with no explicit definition of the term or detail on a transgender participation policy, Kanter and White have decided to try and test those rules, with the campaign rejected by the league as a ‘bad-faith’ effort.
WNBA general managers and presidents met earlier this month as part of an anti-hate task force to discuss the subject of athlete eligibility amid the transgender debate.
The powers-that-be determined that there were no issues with its eligibility criteria, suggesting no changes were needed, announcing there were ‘no immediate eligibility matters affecting’ the WNBA at this time.
Kanter shared a letter he claimed to have sent to WNBA commissioner Engelbert. The letter read: ‘Please accept this formal document as my official written notification to the Women’s National Basketball Association of my voluntary decision to enter the player pool for the 2027 WNBA Draft.
‘Consistent with the current league collective bargaining agreement, I am submitting this notice to exercise my draft rights and to affirm that I am at least twenty-two years old and that I have no remaining intercollegiate eligibility, as required by Article XIII, Section 1(b).
‘I request that the WNBA League Office verify receipt of this document and direct any future communications to my personal email address listed above. Thank you for your official processing of my registration into the 2027 draft pool. Respectfully submitted this 6 day of August 2026.’
Sophie Cunningham’s initial comments left fans, players and coaches in the WNBA divided
Kanter Freedom posted this workout video showing off the progress he is making to get fit
In an accompanying video, Freedom said: ‘It’s officially official. I just declared for the 2027 WNBA Draft in April. Join me in this journey.’
Liberty superstar Breanna Stewart spoke out on the debate which has dominated headlines surrounding the WNBA in recent weeks, attempting to quell the anger.
‘Knowing that rallies are happening on both sides shows the platform that the W has and the stunts for attention are just continuing to try and ride the wave that we have,’ the two-time MVP told a small group of reporters Saturday morning.
‘I want Liberty fans and even Indy fans that are going to come here tonight to be able to have this arena be a safe space.’