WNBA announces decision on men trying to join league

August 31, 2025, in San Francisco, California, the WNBA delivered a definitive statement regarding men who have attempted to join the league. Former NBA players Enes Kanter Freedom and Royce White, who identify as men, had submitted applications to participate in the 2027 WNBA Draft. However, the league has categorically declared that neither Kanter Freedom nor White will be permitted to join.

In a letter addressed to a group of Republican lawmakers, WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert confirmed the players' ineligibility, stating that "both men" are not eligible for the WNBA. Engelbert, however, refrained from providing a definition of "women" as requested by the lawmakers. The collective bargaining agreement of the league stipulates that "only players who are women are eligible to play in the WNBA," yet it lacks a precise definition of the term.

The lawmakers' inquiry into the league's policy stemmed from an announcement made by Kanter Freedom and White in September, in which they aimed to pressure the WNBA into explicitly barring transgender women. Engelbert's response, provided to the America First Policy Institute, did not introduce any new eligibility rules or a broader policy on transgender athletes.

The league had previously acknowledged in August that there were no immediate eligibility issues affecting the WNBA and had condemned attempts to demean or marginalize others through this subject.

Engelbert defended the league's current officiating and disciplinary processes, asserting that fans who violate the WNBA's code of conduct can be ejected. The announcement of this decision on men's attempts to join the WNBA came to light following the America First Policy Institute's release of Engelbert's letter.