Royce White announces presidential bid and WNBA draft intent

Former NBA player Royce White has announced his intention to run for the presidency following a defeat in the Minnesota Republican Senate primary, where he received 11.2 percent of the vote.

White, 35, has also sparked controversy by declaring his intention to enter the 2027 WNBA draft. He stated, “I’m transgender. I’m a woman… I identify as sometimes identifying as a woman for purposes of… professional basketball.” This move follows a similar declaration by former NBA player Enes Kanter Freedom regarding the league's eligibility criteria.

The WNBA's collective bargaining agreement stipulates that only women are eligible to play, but the current documentation lacks a specific definition of “women” or a formal policy regarding transgender eligibility and self-identification.