{
  "id": 3126060,
  "title": "Enes Kanter Freedom and Royce White are not eligible for the WNBA draft, AP source says",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/24/enes-kanter-freedom-and-royce-white-are-not-eligible-for-the-wnba-3126060",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-08-24T22:23:02.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Associated Press",
    "slug": "associated-press",
    "url": "https://apnews.com/article/wnba-enes-kanter-freedom-royce-white-4b23db1f7817caa2a5de018fa7c94b86"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Former NBA players Enes Kanter Freedom and Royce White are ineligible for the WNBA draft, according to a person familiar with the decision. The individual spoke to The Associated Press anonymously due to the sensitive nature of the matter and did not disclose the reasons for their ineligibility. Despite declaring their intention to enter the draft next year, Freedom and White have not been publicly addressed for their eligibility by the WNBA. The league has been under scrutiny recently regarding the eligibility of transgender women, who are individuals born male but transition to align with their gender identity. No transgender woman has ever played in the WNBA. The collective bargaining agreement stipulates that the WNBA is limited to women, but lacks specific language regarding gender identity or sex assigned at birth. Both Freedom and White identified as women when announcing their desire to enter the draft. Freedom, standing at 6-foot-10 and weighing 250 pounds, played 11 seasons in the NBA, while White played just three games. Freedom was ejected from an Indiana Fever vs. Chicago Sky game on Sunday after being confronted by Sky guard Natasha Cloud in the third quarter. Cloud was seen yelling and pointing at Freedom as security intervened between the two players.",
  "summary": "NEW YORK (AP) — Former NBA players Enes Kanter Freedom and Royce White are not eligible for the WNBA draft, a person familiar with the decision said Monday. The person spoke to The…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 5,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "The Hill",
        "title": "Enes Kanter Freedom ejected from WNBA game after confrontation with player",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/24/enes-kanter-freedom-ejected-from-wnba-game-after-confrontation-with",
        "published": "2026-08-24T12:45:03.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Toronto Sun",
        "title": "Enes Kanter Freedom ejected after heated exchange with WNBA star: Here’s what was said",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/24/enes-kanter-freedom-ejected-after-heated-exchange-with-wnba-star",
        "published": "2026-08-24T15:25:14.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Yahoo Sports",
        "title": "Enes Kanter Freedom and Royce White are not eligible for the WNBA draft, AP source says",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/24/enes-kanter-freedom-and-royce-white-are-not-eligible-for-the-wnba-3123573",
        "published": "2026-08-24T22:01:34.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Winnipeg Free Press",
        "title": "Enes Kanter Freedom and Royce White are not eligible for the WNBA draft, AP source says",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/24/enes-kanter-freedom-and-royce-white-are-not-eligible-for-the-wnba",
        "published": "2026-08-24T22:02:54.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}