Kanter claims recruitment of male players for WNBA draft over pay gap

Former NBA center Enes Kanter Freedom has escalated his challenge to the WNBA's eligibility rules by claiming he has recruited eight other male professional basketball players who are considering declaring for the 2027 WNBA Draft. The campaign, which highlights a significant pay gap between the NBA's developmental league and top WNBA salaries, aims to force the league to explicitly define its standard for who is eligible to play.

Kanter made the claim in a social media video posted on August -18, 2026. He stated he had spoken with two former NBA players, three NBA G League players, and three European professional players. According to Kanter, these athletes have said they are ready to join his movement and are considering identifying as women to enter the 2027 draft if the WNBA does not change its rules. He has not publicly identified any of the eight players, and none have independently confirmed his account.

The effort builds on earlier announcements by Kanter and former NBA first-round pick Royce White, who each declared their intention to enter the 2027 WNBA draft. Their challenge centers on language in the league's 2026 collective bargaining agreement, which states that...