Former NBA first-round pick Royce White has announced his intention to declare for the 2027 WNBA Draft, stating that he identifies as transgender. White's announcement on Friday follows a similar declaration made by former NBA player Enes Kanter Freedom earlier the same day.
"I'm transgender. I'm a woman. I identify as sometimes identifying as a woman for purpose of basketball, professional basketball, so I'll be declaring for the WNBA draft in 2027 as well," White told Fox News Digital.
White, 35, also stated that he believes he would be a formidable player in the WNBA. "I think I’d be unstoppable. But I’m a team-first guy. I’m a pass-first kind of player. I do the little things. I led my team in all five major stat categories at Iowa State University, so I do a little bit of everything. I’ll do whatever the coach needs me to do. I’ll do whatever the girls need me to do... I think it’s only fair."
He suggested that the league's stance on biological males playing in women's sports would determine if he proceeds. "I think the WNBA could come out and make a definitive statement about guys with a pair of balls playing in the Women’s Association," White said.
White, who also ran as the Republican nominee against Democratic Sen. Amy Klobuchar for a U.S. Senate seat in Minnesota in 2024, indicated he would pursue legal action if he is not drafted or signed to a team, citing potential discrimination.
"I have to file a discrimination lawsuit, right? I mean, that's, that's ridiculous," White said. "We're gonna have to have a huge legal battle about discrimination if I can't play."
He added that he would seek to play for the Minnesota Lynx, coached by Cheryl Reeve, who has previously shown support for transgender youth.
"It’s got to be the Minnesota Lynx, and I hear the coach loves a good transgender, so we’ll all be in perfect harmony," White said. "How you gonna pass up on a 6-foot-8, 270-pound point forward? That’s ridiculous."
White was selected 16th overall in the 2012 NBA Draft by the Houston Rockets. During his college career at Iowa State, he led his team in scoring, rebounding, assists, steals, and blocks. At the 2012 NBA Draft Combine, he measured 6-foot-8 and 260.6 pounds.
White also stated he would use the women's locker room if he were to join a team, asserting, "I don’t want to be discriminated against. Why wouldn’t I use the women’s locker room?"
He expressed respect for women's basketball, noting his sister's college career and his time playing under Hall of Famer Nancy Lieberman in the BIG3.
"I have great respect for the skill of women’s basketball," White said. "Even at the girls’ level in high school, you see that the girls have to play a much more skilled game because they don’t have some of the physical, God-given abilities or natural physical abilities as the men. There’s a significant difference between biological men and women, and I think we’ve blurred that line, like we’ve blurred many other lines unnecessarily. And I plan to exploit that for my economic and athletic benefit."
White claimed he conceived of his declaration several days before Freedom's announcement, referencing an Aug. 4 X post where he stated he is "transgender" and would "pursue a career in the WNBA."
"I think I was first," White said. "His must have been today or yesterday. I was about three days ago. But great minds think alike. There’s no time limit on these things. When great ideas and great opportunities pop up like this, you’ve just got to jump on them and ride them all the way."
He also floated the possibility of teaming up with Freedom, suggesting they could win multiple championships together.
The WNBA's collective bargaining agreement states that "only players who are women are eligible to play in the WNBA." However, the agreement does not further define "women" or outline policies for transgender or intersex eligibility, nor does it specify that self-identification alone is sufficient for eligibility.
The Women’s National Basketball Players Association issued a statement Friday embracing "justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion" and stating, "Hate, abuse, and demonization of any person or group of people, including transgender people, only fuel fear, division, and harm. We will continue to have hard conversations. But we will not be used as political pawns."
White questioned the criteria for eligibility, asking, "What exactly are the specifics? What criteria do I need to meet in order to be able to play? Is it just a wig? Do I have to cut my beard? Does my voice have to get a little bit lighter? Do I have to do this snip-snip? I’d like to know the specifics of the criteria, and I hope they’d be able to defend it in a court of law."