Former NBA player Royce White says he is declaring for next WNBA Draft after Enes Kanter announcement
Caroline MolloyFormer NBA player Royce White told OutKick/Fox News Digital that he apparently plans to declare for the 2027 WNBA Draft, as he now claims to be transgender.
There are now two former NBA players to announce such a decision, after Enes Kanter Freedom made his announcement earlier on Friday.
“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 said.
“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.”
White said only the league could end his challenge by stating its position plainly on the subject of males playing in women’s sports.
“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,” he said.
Asked whether he would proceed unless the league did make such a statement, White replied, “Oh, no, I’m declaring. And I don’t want to be discriminated against. 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 suggested that he would pursue legal action if he goes undrafted and is not signed to a team.
“I have to file a discrimination lawsuit, right? I mean, that’s, that’s ridiculous,” he said. “We’re gonna have to have a huge legal battle about discrimination if I can’t play.”
