The WNBA has reportedly ruled former NBA players Enes Kanter Freedom and Royce White ineligible for the league after the two men declared themselves female and announced their intention to enter the 2027 WNBA Draft. According to reports, a league source called the declarations publicity stunts and stated that the WNBA would not support efforts to parody the league or belittle and marginalize individuals.However, the issue took a new turn on Tuesday when Enes Kanter Freedom publicly refuted the claim that the league had told him that he was ineligible, calling the reports "fake news."WNBA rules Enes Kanter Freedom and Royce White ineligibleFront Office Sports originally reported on Monday that Enes Kanter Freedom and White would be ineligible to participate in the WNBA. According to league sources, the pair's declarations were publicity stunts, and the WNBA would not tolerate what it described as an attempt to stir up controversy about transgender involvement in women's sports.USA TODAY Sports later said someone with close knowledge of the issue confirmed that neither former NBA player is eligible for the WNBA Draft. According to the person, the league saw their declarations as a "manufactured controversy" designed to gain attention and sow division.The developments follow Enes Kanter Freedom and White's respective declarations on August 7 that they identify as women and aim to enter the 2027 WNBA Draft. Their statements came at a time when the league was already facing growing scrutiny over the presence of transgender athletes in women's sports.The issue heated up after Indiana Fever guard Sophie Cunningham stated last month that young females who play sports should not be forced to compete against biological men.Eligibility rules remain unclearWhile the league has apparently concluded that Kanter Freedom and White are ineligible to play in the WNBA, the exact reasoning behind that decision is still unknown.The WNBA's collective bargaining agreement stipulates that "only women are eligible to play in the WNBA." However, the agreement does not define the term "woman" or include specific language addressing gender identity or sex assignment at birth. The league also does not currently have a published gender-inclusion policy that explains how transgender or intersex players can participate.The WNBA has not publicly explained what criteria it utilized to rule both former NBA players ineligible.OutKick reported that it asked the league to confirm whether the Front Office Sports story represented its official position and to determine the eligibility standards used for the two former players. It has also asked the league to clarify how "woman" is defined in its collective bargaining agreement.According to the outlet, the WNBA did not comment before its publication.Kanter Freedom disputes the reportEnes Kanter Freedom has now directly confronted the reports. Speaking to the New York Post on Tuesday, the former NBA center said he had not received any notification from WNBA officials that he was ineligible. He said:“I haven’t heard anything from the WNBA officials yet. Fake News!”As a result, there are different claims about his current situation. Multiple reports citing league sources state that Kanter Freedom and White are ineligible; however, Enes Kanter Freedom claims that no one from the WNBA has informed him of this decision.The backlash came just after Enes Kanter Freedom was removed from a WNBA game in Chicago. The former NBA player had attended Indiana Fever's game against the Chicago Sky at Wintrust Arena on Sunday. He was seated courtside in a black T-shirt that read:"WOMAN noun. adult human female."Natasha Cloud getting into a verbal altercation with Kanter Freedom - Source: GettyDuring the third quarter, Chicago Sky guard Natasha Cloud got into a verbal altercation with Kanter Freedom. He stood up and raised his arms before security intervened and led him out of the arena.Kanter Freedom subsequently claimed he was ejected from the game for "supporting WOMEN." He took to social media and wrote:"I just got kicked out of a @WNBA game for supporting WOMEN! Let that sink in, AMERICA!"Enes Kanter Freedom later claimed Cloud told him that Cunningham was "not going to sleep with" him. In an interview with Laura Ingraham on Fox News, he confirmed the claim. To which Ingraham asked the former NBA player:"Are you trying to sleep with Sophie Cunningham?"Freedom replied that he was not:“Definitely not, definitely not. I’m going to make this very clear, definitely not.”The WNBA has not taken any decisions against Enes Kanter Freedom as of now.Stay tuned to Soap Central for more information.