Former NBA player Enes Kanter Freedom, known for his close relationship with Fethullah Gülen and his outspoken support for the Gülen movement, designated by Türkiye as the Fetullah Terrorist Organization (FETO), has once again become the center of controversy — this time in American women's basketball.
Kanter, who spent 11 seasons in the NBA, announced that he was declaring himself a woman and seeking entry into the 2027 WNBA Draft.
After initially announcing his intention to enter the draft, Kanter went a step further and said he had formally submitted the necessary paperwork to the WNBA.
“I FEEL LIKE A WOMAN” — KANTER MAKES HIS WNBA MOVE
Kanter's provocative move comes amid an increasingly heated debate in the United States over transgender athletes competing in women's sports.
The former NBA player argued that if self-declared gender identity is recognized in determining who can participate in women's sports, the same principle should apply to him.
Kanter subsequently announced his intention to enter the 2027 WNBA Draft and later published documentation showing that he had formally contacted the league.
His move is widely understood as a challenge to transgender participation policies rather than a genuine attempt to begin a professional career in women's basketball.
“RULES ARE RULES”
Kanter shared his submission to the WNBA on social media with the message: “Rules are rules.”
In his letter, the former NBA player said he was formally declaring himself for the 2027 WNBA Draft and requested that the league process his registration.
Kanter has argued that after reviewing the league's eligibility rules with his team, he believes the existing framework should allow him to submit his name for consideration.
Submitting paperwork, however, does not mean the WNBA has accepted Kanter as an eligible player.
The league has not announced that he will be permitted to participate in the 2027 Draft.
KANTER'S MOVE REIGNITES US DEBATE OVER WOMEN'S SPORTS
The stunt quickly drew attention across the American sports world.
At the heart of the controversy are questions surrounding biological sex, gender identity and eligibility for women's professional sports.
The WNBA's collective bargaining agreement states that only women are eligible to play in the league. Critics, however, have focused on the absence of a detailed definition of “woman” within the relevant eligibility provision.
Kanter has seized on that issue to challenge what he portrays as an inconsistency in the rules.
WNBA HITS BACK AT “BAD-FAITH EFFORTS”
As the controversy intensified, the WNBA responded publicly.
The league condemned what it described as “bad-faith efforts” intended to demean or marginalize others and said there is currently no active transgender-player eligibility issue affecting the league.
The WNBA has also emphasized the importance of competitive fairness while maintaining that player eligibility standards are governed through its collective bargaining framework.
The statement came as Kanter's actions and similar moves by other former NBA players pushed the issue further into the national spotlight.
ANOTHER FORMER NBA PLAYER JOINS THE CHALLENGE
Kanter is not the only former NBA player to make such a move.
Former NBA player Royce White also announced that he would declare himself a woman and seek entry into the 2027 WNBA Draft.
The actions of Kanter and White have intensified an already fierce American debate over whether biological males who identify as women should be permitted to compete in women's sports.
Their moves have turned the WNBA into the latest battleground in a much broader political and cultural dispute in the United States.
KANTER NEVER HID HIS SUPPORT FOR FETHULLAH GÜLEN
In Türkiye, Kanter has long been a controversial figure because of his close relationship with Fethullah Gülen and his open support for the Gülen movement.
Kanter repeatedly expressed his loyalty to Gülen publicly and was photographed meeting him in the United States.
Turkish authorities officially designate the Gülen movement as the Fetullah Terrorist Organization (FETO) and hold it responsible for the failed July 15, 2016 coup attempt in Türkiye.
Kanter continued to publicly support Gülen after relocating to the United States.
His relationship with the movement consequently became one of the defining controversies surrounding him in Türkiye, extending far beyond his basketball career.
