Could Two Former NBA Players Enter the WNBA Draft?

White, a former first-round NBA draft pick, and Kanter Freedom, who played 11 NBA seasons, announced their plans Aug. 7, 2026. White was selected No. 16 overall by the Houston Rockets in 2012 but played only briefly in the NBA, while Kanter Freedom was the No. 3 overall pick by the Utah Jazz in 2011 and went on to play for several teams. Neither announcement establishes that either player has been accepted as an eligible WNBA draft prospect.

The WNBA's draft eligibility rules establish age and professional or collegiate eligibility requirements for prospective players, but a declaration does not by itself guarantee eligibility or selection. The league has not indicated that White or Kanter Freedom has been formally approved for the 2027 draft, leaving their announcements largely as a challenge to the application and interpretation of the league's rules. The issue comes as the WNBA continues to expand its profile and commercial reach, with its collective bargaining agreement and player eligibility framework governing participation in the league.

White and Kanter Freedom's declarations could therefore prompt further discussion about how professional women's sports leagues establish eligibility and whether existing rules adequately address unusual cases involving former athletes from other professional leagues. Any decision on their eligibility would ultimately rest with the WNBA under its governing rules, rather than with the players' declarations themselves.

Sources: Fox News Digital, The Washington Times, PennLive, WNBA and NBA.