Enes Kanter Freedom says he would be willing to play for Clay Travis’ proposed Nashville Balls franchise as part of his challenge to the WNBA’s eligibility rules.
Asked on Fox News whether he would actually join the hypothetical team, the former NBA center immediately accepted the idea.
“Oh, 100%,” he said. “That would be the best thing that the WNBA has ever had.”
Kanter Freedom believes his participation would attract significant attention and increase interest in the league.
“Think about the ticket sales and all the ratings that will go up and the arenas will be full,” Kanter Freedom said. “I’m not here to hurt women’s basketball. I’m here to just protect it in a way.”
Travis has proposed the Nashville Balls as an all-transgender expansion-team concept and said he would welcome Kanter Freedom and former NBA player Royce White.
Both have announced plans to enter the 2027 WNBA Draft as part of their criticism of the league’s eligibility language.
The WNBA collective bargaining agreement states that only women are eligible to play but does not outline a more detailed transgender eligibility standard.
A league source has previously characterized the former NBA players’ draft declarations as publicity stunts.
Kanter Freedom has disputed reports that the league has already ruled him ineligible, saying he has received no official notice and calling such claims “fake news.”
The controversy has also extended beyond the eligibility debate.
Kanter Freedom was recently removed from a Chicago Sky-Indiana Fever game after a courtside confrontation with Natasha Cloud and was subsequently banned from Wintrust Arena.
Despite the controversy, the former NBA big man says he remains willing to take his protest onto a WNBA court if Travis’ proposed Nashville franchise ever becomes a reality.
