Former NBA player Enes Kanter Freedom has put himself forward as a possible replacement for WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert, who announced on Friday that she will step down at the end of 2026. The move comes as Kanter Freedom remains at the center of the league’s debate over transgender athletes in women’s sports. His announcement also comes one day after he filed a federal lawsuit over his removal from a Chicago Sky game last month.
Enes Kanter Freedom wants to replace Cathy Engelbert as WNBA commissioner
Kanter Freedom made his position clear on Friday after Engelbert’s announcement. In a post on X, he wrote, “MAKE @WNBA FEMALE AGAIN,” before explaining why he believes he should lead the league.
“Commissioner Freedom Has a Nice Ring to It. While the reported retirement of #WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert is a win for women and an admission that the league’s rules must change, her retirement does not solve the systemic issues which must be addressed in order to protect women’s sports.
“If the WNBA is unable to define what a woman is, then I, Enes Kanter Freedom, would be more than happy to step in as commissioner and lead this league back to greatness and restore fairness for all women. I’ll bring common sense. I’ll bring fairness. And yes, I’ll bring a dictionary.”
Engelbert’s decision is not an immediate exit. According to the WNBA, she will retire at the end of the year after more than seven years as commissioner. The league said she will also help with the search for her replacement.
Her time in charge has included major growth for the WNBA, but also criticism over issues including transgender athlete rules, player safety and officiating. The next commissioner will therefore take over at a time when the league is growing quickly while dealing with several difficult issues.
Enes Kanter Freedom’s lawsuit follows Chicago Sky ejection
Kanter Freedom’s commissioner push came just a day after he sued the Chicago Sky, the City of Chicago and the Metropolitan Pier and Exposition Authority over his removal from Wintrust Arena on Aug. 23.
The incident happened during the Sky’s game against the Indiana Fever. Kanter Freedom was wearing a shirt that read, “WOMAN noun. adult human female,” before he became involved in a heated exchange with Sky guard Natasha Cloud. He was later escorted out and subsequently banned from attending Sky home games at Wintrust Arena.
In his 15-page federal complaint, Kanter Freedom says his First Amendment rights were violated because he was removed while expressing his views. ESPN reported that the lawsuit was filed in the Northern District of Illinois.
The Sky has given a different account of the incident. Team owner Michael Alter said Kanter Freedom stood up, moved toward the court and was viewed as a potential threat to player safety.
Kanter Freedom, however, continues to argue that the incident was about his views on women’s sports and free speech. His latest move now places him in the middle of the WNBA’s leadership discussion as well as its ongoing transgender athlete debate.
Courtesy : TOI
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