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Enes Kanter Freedom has played a post-retirement role in cultural battles. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
HUNT VALLEY, Md. (TNND) — Enes Kanter Freedom, the former professional basketball center playing a post-retirement role in cultural battles, is mocking the WNBA's transgender policies.
The league has rejected right-wing criticism of its stances on identity issues, which have taken center stage as Indiana Fever guard Sophie Cunningham speaks out against trans participation. Freedom, a male, said in a Friday video message that he's eligible for the WNBA draft.
"If simply declaring who you are is all that's required, then I meet every single requirement necessary to compete in the WNBA," he claimed
The league's players union called on fans in an afternoon statement to "drown out" bad actors sharing hateful content, adding that it wouldn't be used as a "political pawn."
"We embrace justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion. Those are the values that unite this Union and allow it to protect women's sports while creating transformational change," the group said. "Hate, abuse, and demonization of any person or group of people, including transgender people, only fuel fear, division, and harm."
Cunningham sparked a cultural firestorm last month, when ESPN published a profile piece mentioning her opposition to trans participation in women's sports. The guard said she wanted to protect young girls who shouldn't have to compete with transgender males.