The National Anthem might not be popular, but biology seems to be making a comeback in women’s basketball. The WNBA has reportedly decided that former NBA players Enes Kanter Freedom and Royce White cannot compete in its league because, well… they’re men.
Imagine that. A professional women’s sports organization recognizing that men and women are biologically different. What a groundbreaking discovery.
According to the Daily Caller [1], both players announced plans to enter the 2027 WNBA Draft, saying they identify as women. So what’s the problem?
WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert, responding to congressional Republicans, wrote a letter [2] stating that only women are eligible and the two former NBA players are “both men.”
In an era when gender identity has become a major battleground in women’s sports, the WNBA suddenly seems comfortable drawing a biological line in this case.
Engelbert, however, didn’t provide lawmakers with the requested definition of a woman. So what’s the rule? Does identifying as a woman count, or doesn’t it?
The WNBA might want to work on that answer before the next draft.