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Royce White (33) playing for the Rio Grande Valley Vipers. Photo by AP |
White, 35, is on the ballot in Minnesota’s Republican primary for the U.S. Senate. The former player stated he identified as transgender and expressed a desire to compete alongside stars like Caitlin Clark and Sophie Cunningham in the WNBA next season.
“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.
The WNBA Draft is the league’s annual player selection event. College players, international players, and others meeting the league’s criteria are eligible to register.
White was drafted by the Houston Rockets in the first round of the 2012 NBA Draft, but he played only three games in the league for the Sacramento Kings. He previously led Iowa State in all major statistical categories during the 2011-2012 season. He later played in the NBA G League and the NBL Canada, where he won the championship and the MVP.
White believes that his frame of 2.03 m and 118 kg would give him a significant physical advantage if he were to play in the WNBA. The former NBA player describes himself as a team player who is willing to do whatever the coach asks and is confident in his ability to dominate opponents.
White stated that the only thing that could prevent him from entering the WNBA Draft is if the league establishes a clear rule prohibiting men from competing.
“I want fair treatment. I’m a young Black, hopefully United States Senator that would like a fair chance to participate as a sometimes-identifying-as-a-transgender-woman athlete.”
White also noted that he wanted to use these physical differences for both financial and athletic gain if he were to play in the WNBA.
When asked if he would use the women’s locker room, he replied: “Of course. I don’t want to be discriminated against.”
While White said he respects women’s basketball, he maintains his view that there are significant biological differences between men and women.
Before White’s announcement, Enes Kanter Freedom had also publicly stated his intention to enter the WNBA Draft on social media last week.
The former New York Knicks and Boston Celtics player told Fox News: “Based on the current guidelines, I can and am officially declaring my eligibility for the upcoming WNBA Draft in May 2027.”
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Enes Kanter Freedom during a game for the Boston Celtics. Photo by AP |
Freedom, who stands 2.08 m tall, argues that if self-identification is the sole requirement for eligibility, he meets all the criteria to compete in the WNBA.
“My team and I have carefully reviewed the WNBA’s eligibility criteria and government framework surrounding self-identification and inclusion,” he added.
The 34-year-old former player acknowledges that his potential presence on the court might spark controversy. However, he insists he intends no mockery or disrespect toward any community or personal choice.
“I’m simply asking that the current rules be applied equally to everyone – the rules that represent the very values many WNBA players and coaches have publicly advocated for,” Freedom said.
Freedom was selected third overall by the Utah Jazz in the 2011 NBA Draft. He played for the Jazz, Oklahoma City Thunder, New York Knicks, Portland Trail Blazers and Boston Celtics. He has not played professionally since 2022.
Freedom’s announcement quickly went viral on social media, drawing tongue-in-cheek support from various political and sports commentators.
Riley Gaines posted on X: “Genius. Perfect. Waiting to see which WNBA team recruits Enes Freedom.”
Gaines, 26, is a former University of Kentucky NCAA swimmer who retired to focus on political activism and is well-known for campaigning against the participation of transgender athletes in women’s sports.
Meanwhile, British broadcaster Piers Morgan wrote on X: “Brilliant… now let’s see how keen the WNBA stars are for men to play in their league.”
Sports blogger and entrepreneur Clay Travis, who recently offered to pay $10 million to the WNBA champion Las Vegas Aces if they could defeat a high school boys’ basketball team of his choice, simply wrote: “Amazing. Well done.”
Controversy in the WNBA
Controversy has been growing within the WNBA regarding the participation of transgender athletes.
The debate intensified after Sophie Cunningham, a star of the Indiana Fever and the league, told ESPN she wanted to “protect young girls” from competing against biological males in sports.
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Sophie Cunningham prepares to take a shot during the first quarter of a WNBA game between the Indiana Fever and the Dallas Wings in Dallas, Texas, on June 27, 2025. Photo by AP |
This statement immediately polarized the American sports community. Major figures such as Riley Gaines and Stephen A. Smith appeared to support Cunningham, while others publicly criticized her and actively booed her on the court.
The debate grew even more heated when Gabby Williams, a player for the Golden State Valkyries, declared she would welcome a transgender athlete on her team or against her team anytime.
“I don’t think it’s a problem in the world,” she said, as quoted by Mark. “It’s just another way to kind of [target] trans people. So I guess that’s the next battle we have to fight as athletes.”
Following Cunningham’s comments, Minnesota Lynx head coach Cheryl Reeve also made her stance known when she appeared courtside during a game against the Fever last weekend wearing a shirt that read “Trans Kids Belong.”