Enes Kanter Freedom Proposes to Replace WNBA Commissioner
The ongoing debate involving Enes Kanter Freedom and transgender athletes in women’s basketball took an intriguing turn on Friday. This came after he expressed interest in stepping in for WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert, who recently announced her decision to resign after the current season.
Kanter, a former NBA player, has been vocal about the WNBA’s policy regarding transgender athletes ever since he declared his intention to enter the 2027 draft. Following this announcement, the league ruled him ineligible, dismissing his efforts as merely a “publicity stunt,” without providing further clarification on their stance.
“MAKE @WNBA FEMALE AGAIN,” he posted on social media. He also remarked, “Commissioner Freedom Has a Nice Ring to It.”
Kanter’s advocacy against the participation of transgender athletes in women’s sports has made him a controversial figure. He viewed Engelbert’s upcoming resignation as a win for female athletes, yet he pointed out that merely changing the commissioner wouldn’t fix the broader issues the league faces.
“While the reported retirement of #WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert is a win for women and an admission that the league’s rules must change, her retirement does not solve the systemic issues which must be addressed to protect women’s sports,” he commented.
He further stated, “If the WNBA is unable to define what a woman is, then I, Enes Kanter Freedom, would be more than happy to step in as commissioner and lead this league back to greatness and restore fairness for all women. I’ll bring common sense. I’ll bring fairness. And yes, I’ll bring a dictionary.”
Reactions on social media were mixed. Some users accused Kanter of using the situation for personal attention, while others credited Caitlin Clark—rather than Engelbert—for the WNBA’s recent popularity.
This announcement from Kanter followed closely after he filed a federal lawsuit concerning his removal from a WNBA game last month. In his lawsuit, he is contesting the actions of the Chicago Sky, the city of Chicago, and the Metropolitan Pier and Exposition Authority, asserting that his ejection from the Sky’s matchup against the Indiana Fever on August 23 was unjust.
His dismissal occurred after a heated exchange with Sky player Natasha Cloud, which Kanter claims was ignited by his celebration of a three-pointer made by Fever player Sophie Cunningham.
