Ex‑NBA Players Press WNBA Eligibility After Kanter Ejection
Their draft declarations and a federal suit have exposed an undefined line in the league’s collective bargaining agreement that could force court action or new bargaining over who may play.
Overview
- Enes Kanter Freedom was ejected from a Chicago Sky game after a heated courtside exchange with guard Natasha Cloud, the Sky banned him from Wintrust Arena, and he has filed a federal lawsuit seeking to lift that ban.
- Kanter and Royce White publicly declared for the 2027 WNBA draft as a deliberate challenge to the league’s rule limiting play to “players who are women.”
- The WNBA has dismissed the declarations as publicity stunts and says it does not intend to allow either man into the draft under the current collective bargaining agreement.
- Teams and players have raised safety concerns after the courtside incidents, with calls for expanded venue bans and stronger game‑day security as the league and WNBPA consider how to define and enforce eligibility.
- The episode has drawn sharp criticism from inside the basketball community, including former NBA player Montrezl Harrell, who called the challengers “corny and lame,” underlining growing backlash to their tactics.