Royce White says his plan to enter the 2027 WNBA Draft could lead to a legal battle, with the former NBA first-round pick saying his legal team is examining every avenue as he seeks to challenge the league’s eligibility policies.
White and former NBA center Enes Kanter Freedom have publicly declared their intentions to enter the 2027 WNBA Draft, prompting discussion around the league’s eligibility rules and collective bargaining language.
Speaking with Brandon “Scoop B” Robinson, White said he intends to push the process as far as possible rather than treating the declaration as a publicity stunt.
“You’ve known me for a while and you know I’m the type of guy that pushes things all the way,” White said. “We’re going all the way… I should get a chance to play, don’t you think?”
White acknowledged that formal paperwork had not yet been filed with WNBA headquarters but said his legal team is evaluating potential options. He expects the dispute to eventually reach the courts and believes such a case could force the league to reconsider its policies.
“My legal team is looking into every avenue,” White said. “I think it’s going to end up being a huge legal battle, to be honest, and probably a necessary one.”
White also questioned why his proposed entry into the league should create such controversy and jokingly suggested he would be the prospective No. 1 pick. His stated position is that the eligibility framework should be tested through the application process and potentially changed.
The controversy comes as the WNBA continues to address questions surrounding eligibility and inclusion. Kanter Freedom has similarly argued that his declaration is intended to force greater clarity around the league’s rules rather than target individual players.
White also framed his interest in the WNBA as evidence of the growth of women’s basketball. He said the league has become sufficiently competitive and prominent that he is interested in testing whether he can enter it.
“I think the league will get a lot better,” White said. “It’d be much more entertaining, there’d be a lot more dunks and I think it’s good for the league.”
White’s political career adds another dimension to the controversy. He is currently campaigning for the U.S. Senate in Minnesota but rejected the suggestion that the WNBA declaration was solely a campaign strategy, saying he has spent years discussing conservative cultural issues.
The former NBA player also said he has not heard directly from President Donald Trump’s office regarding the declaration. He said he hopes Trump would support his effort because of his stated interest in American professional sports.
White later reiterated his plans on X, writing, “As I stated a few days ago, I am declaring for the 2027 WNBA Draft.” He added a joke about his appearance, writing, “I identify as a sometimes identifying transgender woman! My wig is in the mail.”
