Video NBA players reportedly ineligible for WNBA draft amid backlash Former NBA players Enes Kanter Freedom and Royce White will reportedly be denied from entering the upcoming 2027 WNBA draft league. 'Outnumbered' reacts and debates Charles Barkley's viral comments defending women's sports.
Los Angeles Sparks forward Cameron Brink sharply criticized Enes Kanter Freedom, using explicit language and calling the former NBA center "a stupid piece of s—" for challenging the WNBA’s draft eligibility rules.
The 2024 No. 2 overall pick dismissed the national debate over transgender athletes in women’s sports as a manufactured non-issue before directing her comments personally at Freedom.
Speaking with Mirror U.S. Sports, Brink framed the debate as an attack on the transgender community rather than a dispute over competitive fairness.
FORMER NBA FIRST ROUND PICK ENES KANTER FREEDOM DECLARES FOR 2027 WNBA DRAFT
Cameron Brink #22 of the Los Angeles Sparks reacts before the game against the Las Vegas Aces at Crypto.com Arena on July 29, 2025 in Los Angeles, California. (Luke Hales/Getty Images)
"For me personally, I think when it comes to the trans issues that I believe you're talking about, I think it's a non-issue and I think it's people trying to just come for the trans community and I just don't stand for that," Brink said.
"I don't even know what the fu*k his name is — Enes Kanter — he's a stupid piece of s—," Brink said. "And I think a lot of people think that, and he's just trying to stay relevant."
Brink accused Freedom of using the trans community to generate publicity.
ZERO BS. JUST DAKICH. TAKE THE DON'T @ ME PODCAST ON THE ROAD. DOWNLOAD NOW!
"I think people are tuned in for the right reasons," Brink said. "It's great that we can all talk about sports, but taking something that's a non-issue right now and trying to use it for clickbait, views, and likes by targeting a vulnerable community is just really low."
Former basketball player Enes Kanter Freedom looks on courtside during the first half between the Chicago Sky and the Indiana Fever at Wintrust Arena in Chicago on Aug. 23, 2026. (Getty Images)
Los Angeles Sparks forward Cameron Brink defends against the Phoenix Mercury during the first half of a WNBA game at PHX Arena in Phoenix, Arizona, on Sept. 9, 2025. (Mark J. Rebilas/Imagn Images)
Los Angeles Sparks forward Cameron Brink blocks a shot by Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark during the first half of a WNBA game in Los Angeles on May 13, 2026. (Jae C. Hong/AP)
By declaring for the 2027 draft, Freedom checkmated league brass using Article XIII of their own CBA. The rules restrict play to women, yet fail to define "woman" biologically or enforce a standard of sex verification. It's a glaring loophole that leaves female athletes exposed and leadership completely cornered
The WNBA’s eligibility fight has put Freedom and Indiana Fever guard Sophie Cunningham squarely in the crosshairs.
Cunningham has been booed on the road, confronted by protesters, and hammered online for supporting female-only categories.
Freedom, meanwhile, has drawn fire from players, commentators, and fans, who have branded his campaign "pathetic," disruptive, and a publicity stunt.
SOPHIE CUNNINGHAM SENDS MESSAGE TO HER HATERS AFTER SAYING MEN DON'T BELONG IN WOMEN'S SPORTS
In Seattle, Storm co-owner Celeste Keaton went after teenage Sophie Cunningham supporters over their pro-women’s-sports shirts, drawing a five-game suspension and $25,000 fine for the profanity-laced confrontation.
The tension with Enes Kanter spilled into an August game between the Chicago Sky and Indiana Fever at Wintrust Arena. Freedom sat courtside wearing a shirt reading, "WOMAN noun. adult human female." Late in the third quarter, Sky guard Natasha Cloud confronted Freedom from the court. When Freedom stepped toward the boundary with open arms, security escorted him out.
Turkish-American former basketball player and human rights activist Enes Kanter Freedom is seen prior to a game between the Indiana Fever and the Chicago Sky at Wintrust Arena in Chicago, Ill., on Aug. 23, 2026. (IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
Los Angeles Sparks forward Cameron Brink (22) yells in excitement Tuesday, May 28, 2024, during the game at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. The Los Angeles Sparks defeated the Indiana Fever, 88-82. (IMAGN)
Sky owner Michael Alter subsequently issued Freedom an indefinite arena ban, labeling him a disruption and accusing him of seeking attention. Freedom maintains his campaign targets league policy, not individual players.
"I am not anti-trans, I'm not anti-LGBTQ, I’m just pro-woman," Freedom said. "In this country we have First Amendment, freedom of speech, right? And I simply went to the game with my shirt on."
The eligibility debate continues to fall on players and coaches while the league office remains silent. On Tuesday, Phoenix Mercury head coach Nate Tibbetts declined to weigh in on the matter.
"Yeah, I’m going to leave that to the league office," Tibbetts said. "That’s their job."
While players like Brink view the debate as an unnecessary distraction and coaches defer to leadership, Freedom’s draft campaign keeps attention focused on the ambiguity in the WNBA rulebook.
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Alejandro Avila is a longtime writer at OutKick, living in Southern California.
