Former NBA player Royce White has announced plans to enter the 2027 WNBA Draft, becoming the second ex-NBA player in recent days to make such a declaration as a heated debate over transgender participation continues to divide women’s basketball.
White, 35, made the announcement while speaking to Fox News Digital, saying he identifies as transgender for the purpose of playing professional basketball and intends to pursue an opportunity alongside established WNBA stars.
His comments come shortly after former NBA center Enes Kanter Freedom also announced that he plans to declare for the WNBA Draft.
White Says He Could Be ‘Unstoppable’
White, a former first-round NBA selection who played just three games for the Sacramento Kings, said he believes his size and experience could make him a formidable addition to a WNBA roster.
Standing 6ft 8in and weighing around 260 pounds, he highlighted his all-around game and recalled leading Iowa State in all five major statistical categories during his college career.
White said he would be willing to take on whatever role a coach required, describing himself as a team-first and pass-first player.
He also suggested that his potential arrival would create a major challenge for opposing players.
Former NBA Star Challenges WNBA Eligibility Rules
White said he would only be prevented from pursuing his plans if the WNBA issued a definitive position excluding men from competing in the league.
He argued that he should receive equal treatment and said he did not want to face discrimination because of how he identifies.
White also said he intended to wear a wig while playing and claimed WNBA players would have reason to be concerned about facing him.
His comments have added another provocative element to an already contentious discussion surrounding eligibility and transgender athletes in women’s sport.
Locker Room Question Sparks Further Controversy
When asked whether he would use a women’s locker room if he were allowed to join a WNBA team, White answered that he would.
He said he respected the skill involved in women’s basketball but also acknowledged what he described as physical differences between men and women.
White then said he intended to take advantage of those differences for both athletic and financial benefit, further intensifying the controversy surrounding his proposed entry into the league.
WNBA Debate Has Already Become Deeply Divisive
White’s declaration arrives during an increasingly heated dispute within women’s basketball over transgender participation.
Indiana Fever player Sophie Cunningham recently said she wanted to see young girls protected from what she described as the participation of biological males in women’s sport.
Her remarks prompted a divided reaction among fans, players and commentators.
Some prominent figures, including Riley Gaines and Stephen A. Smith, appeared supportive of Cunningham’s position, while others criticised her comments.
Players and Coaches Take Opposing Positions
The disagreement has also extended into WNBA locker rooms and coaching circles.
Golden State Valkyries player Gabby Williams recently said she would welcome a transgender athlete either as a teammate or an opponent.
Williams described transgender rights as an important issue and argued that having a trans athlete in the league would not be a problem.
Minnesota Lynx coach Cheryl Reeve, meanwhile, made her own position visible by wearing a “Trans Kids Belong” shirt while her team faced the Fever.
The contrasting views have highlighted the sharp divisions surrounding the subject across the league.
Enes Kanter Freedom Makes His Own WNBA Bid
White’s announcement followed a similar move by Enes Kanter Freedom, the 6ft 10in former NBA center who spent 11 seasons in the league.
Freedom announced on social media that he was officially declaring himself a WNBA prospect for 2027.
The former Utah Jazz, Oklahoma City Thunder, New York Knicks, Portland Trail Blazers and Boston Celtics player said he and his team had reviewed the league’s eligibility framework and believed he could declare based on its current rules.
Freedom has not played professional basketball since 2022.
Freedom Says He Wants the Rules Applied Equally
In his announcement, Freedom said he was not attempting to mock or disrespect anyone but wanted the league’s stated principles to be applied consistently.
He said he expected his potential participation to provoke strong opinions but maintained that he was seeking equal treatment under the rules.
The former NBA player also said he was prepared to attend training camp if his declaration was accepted.
His post quickly attracted widespread attention online, particularly from political commentators who praised the move.
Political Figures Rally Behind the Announcement
Conservative commentator Riley Gaines responded positively to Freedom’s announcement, calling it a “genius” move and questioning which WNBA team would recruit him.
Piers Morgan also weighed in, sarcastically questioning how WNBA players would respond to the prospect of men competing in the league.
Clay Travis, who has previously challenged WNBA champions to face a boys’ high school basketball team, also praised Freedom’s decision.
The WNBA Has Yet to Face the Proposed Test
The declarations by White and Freedom do not mean either player has been accepted into the WNBA.
Their proposed entries instead put the league’s eligibility policies under an intense public spotlight.
With the 2027 draft still ahead, the controversy is likely to continue as questions emerge over how the WNBA would handle applications from former male professional players identifying as transgender.
For now, both former NBA players say they intend to test the league’s rules — potentially setting up one of the most unusual eligibility debates in professional basketball.
