Two men who played in the NBA want to join the women's NBA. 'I identify as a woman.'

Former NBA players Enes Kanter Freedom and Royce White have declared their intention to apply for the 2027 Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) draft. Their public announcement is framed as a protest against the WNBA's current participation rules and how they are interpreted.

Both athletes have previously played in the NBA, the men's professional basketball league in North America. Their move to seek entry into the women's league is a direct challenge to the established eligibility criteria and raises questions about the boundaries and definitions within professional sports.

The WNBA, like many professional sports leagues, has specific guidelines regarding player eligibility. The motivations behind Kanter Freedom and White's application appear to be a deliberate attempt to highlight and challenge these regulations, sparking a broader conversation about fairness, inclusion, and the evolving landscape of professional athletics.

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I identify as a woman.