It’s been a month now since the trans-athlete eligibility debate took over the WNBA, and the league still hasn’t come out with any real update on where it stands policy-wise. Meanwhile, the drama around it just keeps piling up.
The newest chapter dropped on Monday, and this time it’s Royce White going after a former NFL linebacker.
Royce White’s Takes Jab at Former NFL Linebacker
On Monday, former NFL linebacker Emmanuel Acho discussed the controversy on the latest episode of his “Speakeasy” podcast.
Acho touched on the incident that took place during Sunday’s WNBA game between the Indiana Fever and Chicago Sky, where Kanter was escorted out of Wintrust Arena following a brief altercation involving Natasha Cloud.
While discussing the situation, Acho appeared to question why Kanter and White would want so much attention through their actions.
“Enes is so lame, it’s just weird to me. It’s just like, you’re that desperate for attention that you’re literally poking & prodding at the W and individuals that are already disenfranchised. … We get it, most people get it. Like, hey, you shouldn’t let men in the WNBA… But it’s just like, bro, you’re that thirsty for attention?” Acho said.
A few hours later, White reshared a clip of Acho’s comments on X. The former NBA player sarcastically argued that people like Acho should not be given a platform to share their opinions on the issue.
“It’s not by accident these bourgeois fruit loops are given platforms. Royce White for President. Real [expletive] Stand Up!” White wrote on X.
It’s not by accident these bourgeois fruit loops are given platforms.
Royce White for President
Real Niggas Stand Up! pic.twitter.com/HBKpjB0nGB— Royce White 🇺🇸 (@Highway_30) August 25, 2026
The exchange comes after the dramatic scene at Sunday’s game. Kanter arrived at Wintrust Arena wearing a black shirt that read, “WOMAN noun. Adult human female.”
During the third quarter, Kanter said he was celebrating after Sophie Cunningham hit a three-pointer. According to his account, a few possessions later, Cloud approached him and confronted him.
The former NBA player then stood up and took a step toward the court as security personnel and Sky players moved between the two. The situation was stopped before it could escalate further, but security eventually escorted Kanter away from his courtside seat and out of the arena.
The latest development, however, does not appear to be going in the direction Kanter or White had hoped.
According to league sources cited by Front Office Sports, neither Kanter nor White is eligible to participate in the 2027 WNBA Draft. The sources reportedly described their draft declarations as “simply publicity stunts,” although the WNBA has not publicly released detailed eligibility criteria explaining the decision.
That leaves the wider debate unresolved. While Kanter and White continue to draw attention to the issue, the WNBA has yet to announce a major change to its eligibility policy.
