There’s a loophole sitting right in the middle of the WNBA’s rulebook, and it’s currently being kicked wide open.
Nowhere in writing does the league explicitly state that a “transgender” person cannot suit up and play. Former NBA players have caught on, and one by one, they are lining up to test it.
Royce White Has Declared for the WNBA Draft
Royce White announced on X that he would be declaring for the WNBA Draft, after claiming that he identifies himself as a woman.
“I identify as sometimes-identifying as a woman for the purposes of professional basketball, so I’ll be declaring for the WNBA Draft in 2027 as well.”
“I mean, I think I’d be unstoppable. But I’m a team-first guy, a pass-first kind of player. I do the little things. I led my team in all five stat categories at Iowa State University. So I do whatever the coach needs me to do; I do whatever the girls need me to do,” White said in the video.
When asked what would actually make him reconsider, White said that a clear, public statement from the WNBA saying men cannot play in the league would stop him.
“I think the WNBA needs to make a definitive statement about guys with a pair of balls playing in the women’s association. But hey, that would probably be too much, right?” White added.
A second former NBA player plans to join the WNBA.
Royce White – a first-round NBA Draft pick in 2012 – told me he will be declaring for the 2027 WNBA Draft. The only thing that will stop him is if the WNBA makes a “definitive statement” that males can’t play in the league. https://t.co/1TiWv2d8Kp pic.twitter.com/22SsSgoHTf
— Jackson Thompson (@JackThompsonFOX) August 8, 2026
It didn’t take long for the clip to go viral, and once it did, the WNBA community didn’t hold back.
The WNBA Community Wasn’t Happy With What White Said
Back in July, Sophie Cunningham told ESPN she allegedly didn’t want transgender athletes in the WNBA, framing her stance as an effort to “protect young girls in a locker room.”
Since that interview, a string of former NBA players have suddenly discovered they’re “declaring” for the WNBA draft, and plenty in the community think that’s no coincidence and are pinning the whole saga squarely on her.
“This is 100% Sophie Cunningham’s fault,” an influencer wrote.
First, it was Enes Kanter Freedom. Now it’s White. A large chunk of the WNBA community isn’t buying these revelations at all. To them, this is exactly the kind of stunt a guy pulls when he wants attention, not a roster spot.
“These losers can declare for the draft all they want; it literally doesn’t mean shit, go ask Sedona Prince,” wrote one user, whereas a content marketer wrote, “This is embarrassing, disrespectful, and loser behavior.”
Former sports columnist Jason Whitlock offered a different perspective, suggesting that the conversation could change dramatically if WNBA salaries reached a significantly higher level.
“Once the WNBA starts paying $3 million a year this gag is going to turn into the real thing. Royce and Enes are having fun. The jokes going to stop at $3 mil per. Blame the WNBA for making a joke of itself,” Whitlock commented.
With the 2027 WNBA Draft still some time away, it remains to be seen whether White will ultimately follow through with the declaration.
