{"id":41440,"date":"2026-08-12T19:09:34","date_gmt":"2026-08-12T14:09:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/?p=41440"},"modified":"2026-08-12T19:09:34","modified_gmt":"2026-08-12T14:09:34","slug":"let-the-transition-to-the-wnba-begin","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/?p=41440","title":{"rendered":"\u2018Let \u2018The Transition\u2019 To The WNBA Begin\u2019"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><script>\r\n  atOptions = {\r\n    'key' : '644b717812d811d6a1c1fc5b6ccd6fa6',\r\n    'format' : 'iframe',\r\n    'height' : 90,\r\n    'width' : 728,\r\n    'params' : {}\r\n  };\r\n<\/script>\r\n<script src=\"https:\/\/www.highperformanceformat.com\/644b717812d811d6a1c1fc5b6ccd6fa6\/invoke.js\"><\/script>\r\n<br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div xmlns:default=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" xmlns:default1=\"https:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" itemprop=\"text\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Former NBA player <a href=\"https:\/\/hollywoodunlocked.com\/tag\/enes-kanter-freedom\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong>Enes Kanter Freedom<\/strong><\/a> has officially signed paperwork to declare for the 2027 WNBA Draft. He says he is ready for his \u201ctransition.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>RELATED<\/strong>: <a href=\"https:\/\/hollywoodunlocked.com\/former-nba-first-round-pick-enes-kanter-freedom-declares-for-2027-wnba-draft-while-citing-leagues-eligibility-rules-for-transgender-athletes\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Former NBA First Round Pick Enes Kanter Freedom Declares For 2027 WNBA Draft While Citing League\u2019s Eligibility Rules For Transgender Athletes<\/a><\/p>\n<h2 id=\"h-former-nba-player-enes-kanter-freedom-declares-for-2027-wnba-draft\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Former NBA Player Enes Kanter Freedom Declares For 2027 WNBA Draft<\/h2>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">As we previously shared, Freedom \u2014 who was a first round pick in the 2011 NBA Draft \u2014 is challenging the league\u2019s eligibility rules for transgender athletes. He claims the new set of rules allow him to do so. Apparently, Freedom is cleverly calling out the WNBA for potential hypocrisy regarding its own trans athletes discourse.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">On Friday (August 7), Freedom \u2014 who apparently believes he was blackballed from the NBA \u2014 took to his <a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/Dbv5Yg2uzI-\/?hl=en\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">social media<\/a> to share his declaration for the 2027 WNBA Draft. <\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In his video, Freedom \u2014 who hasn\u2019t played in the NBA since the Houston Rockets waived him in 2022, following a trade from the Boston Celtics \u2014 sat behind a studio desk wearing an orange WNBA sweatshirt with the Nike logo crossed out. Sitting on the desk, to the right of his hands, was a matching orange WNBA hat. While declaring for the draft, the Nobel Peace Prize Nominee said in his video:<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cAfter careful consideration and reviewing the current eligibility guidelines, I\u2019m officially declaring myself a\u00a0WNBA prospect. If simply declaring who you are is all that\u2019s required, then I meet every single requirement necessary to compete in the WNBA. My team and I have carefully examined the WNBA\u2019s eligibility criteria and governing framework surrounding self-identification and inclusion. Based on the current guidelines, I can and am officially declaring my eligibility for the upcoming WNBA draft in April 2027. I know my presence on the court will stir up strong opinions. I am definitely not here to mock, make fun of, or disrespect any community or personal choices. I\u2019m simply asking that the current rules be applied equally to everyone \u2014 the rules that represent the very values many WNBA players and coaches have publicly advocated for. My team and I are prepared to ensure these guidelines are applied equally, consistently, and without exception, and I look forward to the #WNBA honoring its stated principles. See you at training camp.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>RELATED<\/strong>: <a href=\"https:\/\/hollywoodunlocked.com\/former-nba-player-and-republican-senate-candidate-royce-white-joins-enes-kanter-freedom-in-declaring-for-2027-wnba-draft-i-am-now-a-transgender-woman-wig-is-in-the-mail\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Former NBA Player And Republican Senate Candidate Royce White Joins Enes Kanter Freedom In Declaring For 2027 WNBA Draft: \u2018I Am Now A Transgender Woman, Wig Is In The Mail\u2019<\/a><\/p>\n<h2 id=\"h-former-nba-player-enes-kanter-freedom-signs-paperwork-officially-declaring-for-2027-wnba-draft\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Former NBA Player Enes Kanter Freedom Signs Paperwork Officially Declaring For 2027 WNBA Draft<\/h2>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">On Monday (August 10), Freedom <a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/enesfreedom\/reel\/Db3P443uuL8\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">updated<\/a> his followers on Instagram about his controversial decision. He shared a video of him signing paperwork, officially declaring for the 2027 WNBA Draft. <\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In the caption, he wrote, \u201cOfficially official, @WNBA. I have officially declared for the 2027 WNBA Draft. Rules are rules! #LetFreedomPlay.\u201d In the video, he said, \u201cWell, it\u2019s officially official. I just declared for the 2027 WNBA Draft in April. Join me in this journey.\u201d <\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">On Tuesday (August 11), Freedom then shared a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/enesfreedom\/reel\/Db50dVgutCW\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">video<\/a> of him shirtless in the gym and lifting heavy dumbbell weights. Over the video, he played <strong>Jae Hall<\/strong>\u2019s \u201cI Am Woman.\u201d The caption read, \u201cLet \u2018The Transition\u2019 to the @WNBA begin. Rules are rules. #LetFreedomPlay.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>#Socialites, be sure to check out the post below, then leave us your thoughts in a comment after! <\/strong><\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"instagram-media\" data-instgrm-captioned=\"\" data-instgrm-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/Db6_0QZEcuN\/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading\" data-instgrm-version=\"14\" style=\" background:#FFF; border:0; border-radius:3px; box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width:540px; min-width:326px; padding:0; width:99.375%; width:-webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width:calc(100% - 2px);\"\/>\n<p><!-- CONTENT END 1 --><\/p><\/div>\n<p><script async src=\"\/\/www.instagram.com\/embed.js\"><\/script><br \/>\n<br \/><script async=\"async\" data-cfasync=\"false\" src=\"https:\/\/pl30214220.effectivecpmnetwork.com\/9ab3d4df8a7e1a6171e16ddbf732cc19\/invoke.js\"><\/script>\r\n<div id=\"container-9ab3d4df8a7e1a6171e16ddbf732cc19\"><\/div>\r\n<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Former NBA player Enes Kanter Freedom has officially signed paperwork to declare for the 2027 WNBA Draft. He says he is ready for his \u201ctransition.\u201d RELATED: Former NBA First Round Pick Enes Kanter Freedom Declares For 2027 WNBA Draft While Citing League\u2019s Eligibility Rules For Transgender Athletes Former NBA Player Enes Kanter Freedom Declares For&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":41441,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/hollywoodunlocked.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Former-NBA-Player-Enes-Kanter-Freedom-Officially-Signs-Paperwork-Declaring-For-2027-WNBA-Draft-\u2018Let-\u2018The-Transition-To-The-WNBA-Begin.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[20],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-41440","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-celebrity-gossip"],"brizy_media":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/41440","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=41440"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/41440\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/41441"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=41440"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=41440"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=41440"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}