Royce White is planning to enter the WNBA draft.
The 35-year-old former NBA player and Republican Senate hopeful has announced he will be declaring for the WNBA draft as a transgender woman, he told OutKick/Fox News on Friday (August 7).
“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,” he 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,” Royce continued. “I think it’s only fair.”
White says the only way the league could end his challenge is by stating its position on 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 told Fox. “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.”
If a team doesn’t draft him, he says he could sue.
“I have to file a discrimination lawsuit, right? I mean, that’s, that’s ridiculous,” Royce shared. “We’re gonna have to have a huge legal battle about discrimination if I can’t play.”
Royce‘s comments came hours after former NBA player Enes Kanter Freedom said he was also declaring for the 2027 WNBA draft.
Royce briefly played in the NBA after being drafted in 2012 by the Houston Rockets. However, due to a fear of flying, he came to an agreement with the Rockets to allow him to limit airline travel and go by bus instead.
He did not play any games with the Rockets, but after being relegated to the team’s D-League affiliate, he was later traded to the Philadelphia 76ers, though did not play with them either.
In 2014, White signed a contract with the Sacramento Kings, and made his NBA debut on March 21, 2014. He only played in three games.
Then, in 2022, after playing for various leagues, he ran for the House of Representatives, losing the primary to Cicely Davis. In 2024, he ran for the US Senate, winning the Republican primary, but losing the election to incumbent Democrat Amy Klobuchar.
In early 2026, Royce announced he would be running for the vacant Senate seat being vacated by Democratic Senator Tina Smith.
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