New Delhi, Aug. 8 -- Former NBA center Enes Kanter Freedom has thrown himself into the center of a heated debate by announcing he is declaring for the 2027 WNBA Draft. The 6-foot-10 big man, who once averaged more than 11 points and 7 rebounds per game on better than 50 percent shooting, spent time with the New York Knicks, Boston Celtics and Portland Trail Blazers before retiring in 2022.

Enes Kanter Freedom posted a video wearing a WNBA hoodie and said he had studied the league's eligibility rules. He argued that the same principles of self-declaration and inclusion that the league and many of its players have supported should open the door for him.

"After careful consideration and reviewing the current eligibility guidelines, I'm off...