Royce White, a former NBA player and current Republican Senate hopeful in Minnesota, has declared his intention to enter the 2027 WNBA Draft. White stated in an interview that he identifies as a woman for the purpose of professional basketball and believes he would be an "unstoppable" player.
White, who played three games in the NBA for the Sacramento Kings and was a first-round draft pick, described himself as "260 pounds, 6ft 8" with "the third biggest hands in the history of the modern NBA Draft combine." He vowed to wear a wig during games and suggested his potential presence would cause WNBA players to have "nightmares."
He also stated he would use the women's locker room, asserting, "I don’t want to be discriminated against. Why wouldn’t I use the women’s locker room?" White added that he has "great respect for the skill of women's basketball" but believes there is a "significant difference between biological men and women" that he plans to "exploit for my economic and athletic benefit."
White's announcement follows a similar declaration from ex-NBA player Enes Kanter Freedom, who also stated his intention to declare for the 2027 WNBA Draft, citing current eligibility guidelines. Freedom stated his aim was not to mock any community but to ensure the application of rules "equally to everyone."
The declarations occur amid ongoing debate within the WNBA regarding transgender athlete inclusion. This discussion was amplified by Indiana Fever player Sophie Cunningham, who advocated for protecting young girls from "biological men" in sports. Conversely, Golden State Valkyries star Gabby Williams expressed a welcoming stance towards transgender teammates. Minnesota Lynx head coach Cheryl Reeve showed support for transgender youth by wearing a "Trans Kids Belong" t-shirt on the sidelines.