Enes Kanter & Royce White Enter WNBA Draft + NBA Schedule Release Nears

Reese, Pam and Alex discuss the controversy surrounding former NBA players Enes Kanter Freedom and Royce White entering the WNBA Draft, as well as the upcoming release of the NBA’s 2026–27 schedule and the biggest games fans should look out for.

Former NBA players Enes Kanter Freedom and Royce White have announced plans to enter the 2027 WNBA Draft, saying they identify as transgender. The announcements appear to be aimed at challenging the WNBA’s policies on transgender athletes rather than launching legitimate basketball comebacks. The controversy raises questions about what the league’s eligibility requirements would be, particularly given that Kanter is 6-foot-10 and White is 6-foot-8. Neither player has been drafted or signed, but their announcements are putting pressure on the WNBA to clarify its policy on transgender participation. What does the Sports Shop crew think?

The NBA is set to release its full 2026–27 regular-season schedule on Thursday, August 13 at 3 p.m. ET. The league has already announced its opening-night and Christmas Day matchups, with the NBA Cup schedule coming tomorrow. The regular season will officially begin on October 20, giving fans a chance to see the full slate of games, including key matchups, road trips and nationally televised contests, later this week. When does your team play?