Stephen A. Smith Agrees With Enes Kanter Mocking Trans Athlete Debate

USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect

ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith agrees with Enes Kanter mocking the trans athlete debate.

On Friday, Kanter went viral when he announced that he would had decided to join the WNBA draft after players and coaches in the league refused to shut down the idea of trans athletes playing in the league.

After careful consideration and reviewing the current eligibility guidelines, I’m officially declaring myself a @WNBA
prospect.

If simply declaring who you are is all that’s required, then I meet every single requirement necessary to compete in the WNBA.

My team and I have carefully examined the WNBA’s eligibility criteria and governing framework surrounding self-identification and inclusion. Based on the current guidelines, I can and am officially declaring my eligibility for the upcoming WNBA draft in April 2027.

Former NBA 1st rd pick Enes Kanter Freedom has declared for the WNBA Draft

“My team & I have carefully examined the WNBA’s eligibility criteria… Based on the current guidelines, I can & am officially declaring my eligibility for the upcoming WNBA Draft” pic.twitter.com/6S66h75AS0

— Jon Root (@JonnyRoot_) August 7, 2026

On Saturday, Smith agreed with Kanter’s way of mocking the WNBA’s position on the matter. In a lengthy rant, the ESPN host blasted the WNBA for allowing Kanter and others to hijack the conversation.

“You see how much of a mess this is becoming, right? And everybody want to act like, oh my goodness, we don’t want to hate on trans, we don’t want to hate on trans folks. That’s not what this is about.”

“Anybody who’s hating on them should be ashamed of themselves. The WNBA, and everybody else in between is absolutely right when they talk about not violating people’s civil rights and liberties, not being hateful, not engaging in hate in any way, shape, form, or fashion, whether verbally, physically, or otherwise. We all know that.”

“But what Enes Kanter’s point is about competition. So for somebody to transition from male to female and for folks to act like it would be okay for them to participate in the WNBA is ridiculous. And when you have athletes from the WNBA saying that they’re looking out for and speaking up on behalf of girls because it would clearly be an unfair advantage to a trans athlete over people born female, what’s the problem?”

“What’s the problem? We gotta have common sense. And yes, Enes Kanter is going a bit too far, but he’s right to to make a point.”