Overview
- Royce White submitted a written declaration to the WNBA identifying as a transgender woman and his notice was signed and sent by attorney Matt Gaetz, putting an official request for eligibility into the league’s hands.
- Enes Kanter Freedom has publicly said he will declare for the 2027 WNBA Draft and claimed he spoke to eight other male players willing to identify as women to enter the draft, but those additional names and contacts remain unverified.
- The WNBA’s Anti‑Hate Task Force has said there are no immediate eligibility matters and emphasized the league’s rejection of what it called bad‑faith efforts, while the league’s Player Personnel Department must review any formal applications under the CBA before adding someone to the draft pool.
- The dispute has produced arena protests, stunts at games, and rising national attention, and it raises clear legal, safety and labor questions that the WNBPA says should not be used as a political pawn.
- The core issue is a gap in Article XIII, Section 1(a) of the 2026 CBA, which says only players who are women are eligible but does not define 'woman,' meaning any definitive rule change would likely require union negotiation or a legal resolution.