Beleaguered WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert announced on Friday morning that she is stepping down after this season. That news prompted Enes Kanter to announce his submission to be the next WNBA commissioner.
Kanter, who has thrust himself in the middle of the transgender athlete controversy linked to the league, posted a video to social media making his case to replace Cathy Engelbert.
“MAKE @WNBA FEMALE AGAIN,” Kanter wrote in a post on X.
“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.”
Kanter’s announcement comes just one day after he filed a federal lawsuit in Illinois over the way he was mistreated at a WNBA game last month, he claims.
The former Boston Celtics center sued the Chicago Sky, the Metropolitan Pier and Exposition Authority and the city of Chicago. Kanter alleges all three entities unjustly had him removed from the Sky versus Indiana Fever game on Aug. 23 at Wintrust Arena.
Kanter and Sky guard Natasha Cloud were involved in a heated exchange that led to the former NBA player’s removal at the game.
“I’m a huge fan of basketball. I’m a huge fan of women’s basketball and I was there to watch the game and I was really excited because I’m a huge fan of the Fever. I was literally there to watch the game and then the first half went amazing,” Freedom told Fox News. “I was having so much fun with my friends and stuff. And then it was towards the end of the third quarter, Sophie Cunningham shot a three and I put my hands up to celebrate.
“Literally a couple of possessions later, Natasha [Cloud] came back and started screaming and yelling and said ‘She’s not going to sleep with you.’ And I was like ‘I’m not trying to sleep with her. I’m just here to protect women and support her.’ And then obviously after that she started yappin’ and she started to walk towards me and litertally I just got up and I was like ‘I’m just here to protect women and that’s all.’”
Kanter has been arguably the most divisive figure in the entire controversy. While some have come after the former NBA star, accusing him of seeking attention or tarnishing the sport, others have come to his defense, alluding to his defense of biological women in sports.
