His reaction came after the Golden State Valkyries defeated the Atlanta Dream 68-63 at Chase Center in San Francisco, winning their first championship in just their second season.Gabby Williams led Golden State with 30 points in the first Game 7 in WNBA Finals history."I’m so proud of all these hardworking, talented women who have dedicated their lives to basketball.
They deserve all the recognition, respect, and support in the world," Freedom said in a statement reacting to the game.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)"I just wish they had better leadership, because the conversation should be about their incredible performances on the court, not controversies off it.My hope is that next year we can finally have some peace and let basketball be the focus again."But if not, I’ll see you ladies at the 2027 WNBA Draft.
Rules are rules!"The former NBA center announced his draft bid in August, saying he identifies as a woman and arguing that the league’s eligibility language allowed him to compete.The WNBA has already deemed him ineligible.Commissioner Cathy Engelbert reiterated that position in an Oct.
16 response to Republican lawmakers who had pressed the league to explain its eligibility standards.She wrote that "only women are eligible to play in the WNBA" and identified Freedom as a man.The exchange followed a September inquiry led by Rep.
Marlin Stutzman, R-Ind., seeking, among other answers, the league’s definition of "women."Article XIII, Section 1(a) of the WNBA’s 2026 collective bargaining agreement states: "Only players who are women are eligible to play in the WNBA." The agreement does not set out a separate eligibility policy for transgender women.Freedom has said he would end his campaign if the league explicitly restricted eligibility ...