Caitlyn Jenner says she may enter the WNBA Draft to challenge trans athlete eligibility rules
Enes Kanter Freedom’s ongoing challenge to the WNBA’s eligibility rules has drawn the attention of Caitlyn Jenner, the 76‑year‑old Olympic decathlon champion, who says she has spoken with Freedom and even floated the idea of entering the league herself.
In an appearance on the talk show “Planet Tyrus,” Jenner told host Tyrus that she and Freedom have had multiple phone conversations. “Enes and I have talked on the phone quite a few times, and I even told him one time — this is a couple of weeks ago — ‘Enes, I’m like a real trans person. Maybe I should sign up for the 2027 WNBA draft,” Jenner said.
Jenner, who won a record‑breaking decathlon gold medal at the 1976 Summer Olympics in Montreal, was drafted by the then‑Kansas City Kings in the NBA. The Kings played in Kansas City from 1972 to 1985 before moving to Sacramento. Although Jenner played basketball growing up, she gave her undivided attention to the decathlon. She is one of the most well‑known transgender persons in the country.
During the same conversation, Tyrus remarked that the WNBA could end the controversy by simply stating that men cannot play in a women’s league. “All the WNBA had to say was, ‘You can’t play in our league because you are a man. This is a woman’s league.’ That’s it, it’s over. News cycle’s done,” Tyrus said. Jenner responded, “Maybe they don’t want the news cycle being done.” Tyrus then pointed to the attention surrounding Sophie Cunningham, adding, “Well, look at Sophie Cunningham and what happened with her — the WNBA has never got so much press.”
Freedom, a former NBA player, was ejected from Wintrust Arena in Chicago late last month after an altercation with Chicago Sky guard Natasha Cloud while playing for the Indiana Fever. Following the incident, he posted a video on X, directly addressing WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert and the league’s task force. In the video, he proposed a “peace summit” and mentioned that Jenner could moderate. “I’ve already spoken with her, and she’s in,” Freedom wrote. He also wrote, “Listen, the whole world is laughing at you. You have turned the #WNBA into a laughingstock. It’s time to stop hiding behind closed‑door meetings, excuses, and delays and finally give the public a clear answer. Let’s have a peace summit. No shouting. No hiding. No carefully scripted statements. Let’s sit across the table from each other, have an open and respectful conversation, and address the questions millions of people are asking.”
The WNBA and its task force have not publicly responded to Freedom’s challenge or to Jenner’s comments. The task force, which met recently, has not issued a decision on what criteria define a woman for eligibility.
Jenner has long advocated for keeping biological men out of women’s sports. On “Fox News @ Night” with Trace Gallagher, she said, “They’re showing the hypocrisy of what’s going on out there in the WNBA. The WNBA had their meetings on this issue and Cathy (Engelbert), the head, says, ‘We talked about the trans issue but we just haven’t come up with a conclusion at this point. We will continue the conversation.’ Cathy, XX, you’re in. XY you’re out. It’s that simple.” She added, “And both these guys I think are doing a good job just to show the WNBA the hypocrisy that’s going on here. We have to protect women’s sports … I want to protect women’s sports. Title IX was one of the greatest legislations for women’s equality – that happened to be in sports.”
Meanwhile, former NBA player Royce White has also announced his intention to enter the WNBA draft, further intensifying the debate.
As the league continues to deliberate, the intersection of gender eligibility, athletic opportunity, and public scrutiny remains at the forefront of sports discourse.