Sophie Cunningham spurs NBA player Royce White to WNBA draft

Royce White, a former NBA player and current Senate candidate, declared his intention to enter the 2027 WNBA Draft, claiming that he identifies as transgender for athletic purposes. White, who is 35 years old and stands at 6'8", reported to Fox News, "I’m transgender. I’m a woman. I identify as sometimes identifying as a woman for the purpose of basketball, professional basketball, so I’ll be declaring for the WNBA draft in 2027 as well." This announcement follows recent remarks made by WNBA player Sophie Cunningham regarding transgender athletes, which reignited discussions surrounding the league’s policies on transgender competitors. The debate was further fueled by Enes Kanter Freedom, another former NBA player, who stated his plans to enter the same draft. Freedom asserted that he had reviewed the WNBA’s eligibility rules and believed he met the necessary requirements to play. The WNBA’s collective bargaining agreement for 2026 specifies in Article XIII that "only players who are women are eligible to play in the WNBA,” yet it does not explicitly define what constitutes a “woman” for eligibility. Following Freedom's announcement, the Women’s National Basketball Players Association issued a statement emphasizing their commitment to justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion, while condemning any form of hate or discrimination. White commented that the WNBA could eliminate the controversy around transgender participation by clarifying their policies regarding male eligibility. He mentioned ongoing concerns and the possibility of legal actions if he is not drafted, stating, "I have to file a discrimination lawsuit, right? I mean, that’s, that’s ridiculous." The discussions about the inclusion of transgender athletes have received significant media attention, prompting WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert to communicate with teams about the ongoing complexities of the topic. Engelbert noted that the league is set to hold further conversations and listening sessions with team leaders. The debate gained traction in July after Cunningham openly criticized the participation of transgender individuals in women’s sports, stating, "I want to protect young girls in a locker room, or young girls in sport who shouldn’t have to go against biological men." Cunningham reiterated her stance, claiming her views were rooted in "common sense." The Independent has reached out to both the WNBA and WNBPA for further comment.