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Harrell argued that if players have a political message regarding the protection of women’s sports, they should articulate it directly rather than resorting to public spectacles: “I know what you’re trying to say about men not playing with women, but just use your words as a grown man. Don’t try to berate women… I’m not a fan of it and wish it was something they wouldn’t do, because it’s not highlighting the message they claim to have about protecting women’s sports.” Reached for comment via text message following Harrell’s interview, Royce White—who has shifted his focus toward right-wing populist political activism and a U.S. Senate bid—dismissed Harrell’s critique in explicit, aggressive terms: “This is how bitches talk… ‘It’s not what you’re saying, it’s how you’re saying it.’ Find a more ‘politically correct’ way to tell me the truth. I’m fresh out of nice ways to tell dumb niggas common sense. It’s funny saying ‘use your words’ like this hasn’t already been a discussion for a while. Why hasn’t he ever spoken on it or ‘used his words’ since he gets it?”
Enes Kanter Freedom: 🚨 BREAKING! U.S. Congress demanding answers from the @WNBA . If the league has no clear definition of “woman,” on what basis was @EnesFreedom deemed ineligible for the 2027 WNBA Draft? The question is simple. The rules should be too. Rules Are Rules.
Outspoken figures like Royce White and Enes Kanter Freedom have taken high-profile, unconventional paths to make social and political points—most recently declaring for the WNBA Draft and making public scenes that the league explicitly called “publicity stunts”. As someone who has played at every level, what are your honest thoughts on players using the platform like this, and where do you draw the line between legitimate advocacy and headline-grabbing stunts that draw focus away from women’s basketball? Montrezl Harrell: I don’t entertain that, to be honest with you. That stuff is corny and lame. I’m an actual WNBA fan. I’ve been to most of their games and went to Game 1 when the Aces made their back-to-back run. I was down there on the floor conversing with the MVP, All-Stars and the MVPs of the league. For guys like that to use their platform to disrespect it, that’s corny. I’m not a fan of it at all. You don’t gain any cool points off of it. You’re two grown men running into arenas and public spaces making a mockery of yourselves. Who is that helping? I’m never going to say I understand what you’re doing, because what you’re doing is corny. I know what you’re trying to say about men not playing with women, but just use your words as a grown man. Don’t try to berate women. Even when Enes Kanter got into it with Natasha Cloud, that was corny. You don’t gain cool points off that. I’m not a fan of it and wish it was something they wouldn’t do, because it’s not highlighting the message they claim to have about protecting women’s sports. I’m just not a fan of their overall stuff.
The search for the WNBA’s next commissioner is unofficially underway. NBA commissioner Adam Silver and his colleagues haven’t begun interviewing candidates, but calls about the job opening are flooding in since Cathy Engelbert announced her retirement earlier this month. “I can tell by the calls I’m getting how much more attractive this job is and will be in 2027 than it was in 2019,” Silver told The Athletic on Tuesday.
“We’re at the stage of this league where understandably there was going to be some tension around collective bargaining,” he said. “Now that we have a long-term agreement in place, we need somebody who is going to help unify the players with the players and the players with ownership. I see that opportunity.”
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Former NBA player Enes Kanter Freedom, who contends he should be considered eligible for the 2027 WNBA Draft as a woman, recently sued the Chicago Sky, the City of Chicago and others over an Aug. 23 incident in which he was expelled from attending a Sky-Indiana Fever game in Chicago’s Wintrust Arena as a spectator after he and Sky guard Natasha Cloud exchanged words. Kanter’s lawsuit isn’t about whether, by saying he identifies as a woman, he satisfies the eligibility rule contained in Article XIII of the WNBA’s CBA. The rule states that “only players who are women are eligible to play in the WNBA.” The word “woman” isn’t defined or clarified, meaning it’s possible an athlete who was assigned male at birth but identifies as a woman meets the requirement.
Hoops Central: “Are you and (Angel Reese) friends now?” Caitlin Clark: “We’ve always been friends. Don’t try to do that.”
It’s officially USA-France for the World Cup gold medal tomorrow at Berlin’s Uber Arena. USA uses a strong fourth quarter to beat Spain, 76-66. The rematch of the 2024 Paris Olympic final is happening. Spain and Germany will play for bronze.
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The WNBA is in search of a new leader, as commissioner Cathy Engelbert announced Friday that she will retire at the end of the calendar year. Engelbert is the sixth league head and second-longest tenured behind Val Ackerman. Engelbert is the first to hold the title of WNBA commissioner, as the previous leaders served as president. The process to find Engelbert's replacement will start later this month, if not sooner, sources told ESPN. Presumably, the hire will be made by and report to NBA commissioner Adam Silver, as was the case with Engelbert. She told the Associated Press and The IX that she has been working on a succession plan for years, and that she has already submitted a list of potential internal and external candidates to Silver.
Here are some of the possible candidates. Swin Cash - The former UConn star played in the WNBA from 2002 to 2016, winning three championships. Inducted into the Naismith Hall of Fame in 2022, Cash has worked in the front office for the WNBA's New York Liberty (2017-19) and NBA's New Orleans Pelicans (2019-25). Cash, who turns 47 later this month, has also been a broadcast analyst. Her management experience is a plus, but some might question if Cash has spent enough time in the business world. -- Michael Voepel
Acyn: Kanter Freedom: If they don’t want to change the rules, I think it might be really good for them because I will be playing in 2027 and I will be the best draft pick the WNBA has ever seen. My goal is to break Wilt Chamberlain’s 100 point record. I will be dunking everything in the name of equality. I just hope that they select me with the Indiana fever. Me and Caitlin Clark will be the modern day Shaq and Kobe.