The group discussed the issue on Wednesday but did not agree on new eligibility rules, ESPN reported. The question gained attention after former NBA players Enes Kanter Freedom and Royce White said they plan to enter the 2027 WNBA Draft. The WNBA has not added new rules defining who qualifies as a woman after a league task force met to discuss transgender athlete eligibility. For now, the league’s existing eligibility language remains officially unchanged.
The league said there are “no immediate eligibility matters affecting the WNBA” and rejected “bad-faith efforts” to demean or marginalize people.
Domestic players must turn 22 during the draft year and meet the league’s college or high-school timing rules. International players must turn 20 during the draft year and meet the league’s definition of an international player. The issue drew wider attention after Freedom and White said they would declare for the 2027 WNBA Draft. It’s been around for 30 years. White has also said he plans to pursue the 2027 draft, adding another challenge to the league’s wording.
They must have no remaining college eligibility, or give it up. Freedom argued that the league’s wording leaves room for his challenge. He later criticised the league’s task force meeting, saying: “The Commissioner of the WNBA [Cathy Engelbert] messaged every GM, and they’re still trying to figure out what a woman is. And they’re actually having a meeting this week. So, think about how disrespectful that statement was to all the players who actually played in their league, in their history. For now, the existing rule remains in place, while the league has not added a more detailed definition to settle the question.
The WNBA’s current Collective Bargaining Agreement says: “Only players who are women are eligible to play in the WNBA. However, the agreement does not separately define “woman” in its player eligibility section. Freedom said: “If simply declaring who you are is all that’s required, then I meet every single requirement necessary to compete in the WNBA. The WNBA said discussions will continue in the coming weeks and months.
