Royce White shows up to Indiana Fever game in blonde wig amid WNBA Draft pursuit
Former NBA Player Royce White Attends WNBA Game as Part of Draft Campaign
Former NBA player Royce White made an appearance at a Women's National Basketball Association game Friday night, continuing the public campaign he launched earlier this month to enter the 2027 WNBA Draft.
White was spotted at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis during the Indiana Fever's matchup against the Connecticut Sun, wearing a long blonde wig. Photos and video obtained by OutKick showed him inside the arena as the Fever prepared for the game. Fans greeted him warmly, with multiple attendees stopping to shake his hand and take photographs.
When asked by OutKick about his presence at the game, White made his intentions clear. "All hail Queen Roysha, the queen has arrived, it's great to be here. I'm here because Black trans lesbians matter, and we've always mattered, we've always existed. I'm here to participate and scout some of the competition maybe as well." He also described himself as there "just to spectate" and "just to support the WNBA and support the Fever." When asked what kind of reception he expected from fans, White appeared unbothered: "Who cares? It's life, you get one life to live. You're born, you breathe, you stop breathing, hopefully you give all glory to God … Who cares what the reaction is?"
White had previewed the look on social media ahead of the event.
His appearance comes on the heels of a separate controversy involving fellow former NBA player Enes Kanter Freedom, who was ejected from a Chicago Sky game on Sunday night and subsequently banned from future Sky contests. The incident drew national attention and prompted the Sky's owner to draw an analogy to shooting a gun.
White formally declared his intention to enter the 2027 WNBA Draft through a letter sent to the league office by his attorney, former U.S. Congressman Matt Gaetz. The declaration stated that White identifies as a transgender woman and claims eligibility under the league's new collective bargaining agreement. Gaetz wrote on social media, "The WNBA should preserve all records in anticipation of litigation."
In a prior interview with OutKick, White explained his position: "I'm transgender. I'm a woman. I identify as sometimes identifying as a woman for purpose of basketball, professional basketball, so I'll be declaring for the WNBA draft in 2027 as well." He has also threatened to pursue a discrimination lawsuit if he is not permitted to compete.
The WNBA's collective bargaining agreement states that "only players who are women are eligible to play in the WNBA," but the agreement does not provide a specific definition based on biological sex or gender identity. White's declaration is widely understood to be an effort to pressure the league into clarifying its eligibility standards on that question.
Multiple news outlets reported this week that both White and Freedom would not be eligible for the draft. A league source described their declarations as "publicity stunts," though White's legal team said it had not yet received a formal determination from the WNBA.
White was selected by the Houston Rockets with the 16th overall pick in the 2012 NBA Draft after a standout college career at Iowa State. He appeared in only three NBA games, all with the Sacramento Kings, in 2014.
