{"id":23048,"date":"2026-08-10T15:48:43","date_gmt":"2026-08-10T15:48:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/playball.com.ng\/?p=23048"},"modified":"2026-08-10T15:48:43","modified_gmt":"2026-08-10T15:48:43","slug":"wnbas-lack-of-clarity-on-gender-eligibility-policy-is-herald-of-the-times-culturally-ex-nba-player-says","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/playball.com.ng\/?p=23048","title":{"rendered":"WNBA\u2019s lack of clarity on gender eligibility policy is \u2018herald of the times culturally,\u2019 ex-NBA player says"},"content":{"rendered":"


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Royce White, a former NBA player who said he will declare for the 2027 WNBA Draft, said Sunday the league is an “example” of “us losing a lot of things in this country.”<\/p>\n

White appeared on Fox News Channel\u2019s “Fox & Friends Weekend” and was asked whether the league was at risk of losing its new audience amid the growing trans athlete debate surrounding the league and the lack of a clear policy when it came to gender eligibility.<\/p>\n

FORMER NBA PLAYER ROYCE WHITE SAYS HE IS DECLARING FOR NEXT WNBA DRAFT AFTER ENES KANTER ANNOUNCEMENT<\/strong><\/p>\n

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\"Royce<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>\n
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Royce White No. 30 of the Power reacts during the BIG3 Championship against Trilogy at State Farm Arena in Atlanta, Ga., on Aug. 21, 2022.<\/span> (Getty Images for BIG3)<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

“The WNBA is an example of a herald of us losing a lot of things in this country,” White said. “We have to secure our elections, we have to restart the mass deportations, we have to start arresting some of these Deep Staters, I\u2019m a huge fan of banning Sharia Law and Marxism nationwide and also some of these PACs and lobbies, but the WNBA and their lack of terminology, precision is a herald of the times culturally, for sure.”<\/p>\n

The WNBA\u2019s collective bargaining agreement\u2019s Article XIII, Section 1(a) states: “Only players who are women are eligible to play in the WNBA.” But as OutKick\/Fox News Digital previously reported, the 409-page agreement never defines “woman” or “women.” The terms “transgender” and “gender identity” don\u2019t appear anywhere in the document.<\/p>\n

The CBA contains detailed definitions for dozens of other terms. Yet the agreement doesn\u2019t define the word that determines who may play in the league.<\/p>\n

ZERO BS. JUST DAKICH. TAKE THE DON’T @ ME PODCAST ON THE ROAD. DOWNLOAD NOW!<\/strong><\/p>\n

“It\u2019s just astounding that the WNBA can\u2019t define the \u2018W\u2019 in the name,” White added. “I think we\u2019re going through a very necessary conversation about who\u2019s actually eligible to play in some of these sports leagues I guess on both sides of the gender spectrum. My goal is to help elevate the WNBA. I think the ticket prices and the attendance will soar. I think the live audience will increase and I think, ultimately, it\u2019s good for the game.<\/p>\n

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\"WNBA<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>\n
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WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert speaks prior to the 2026 WNBA Draft at The Shed on April 13, 2026, in New York City.<\/span> (Getty Images)<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

“It\u2019s gonna help evolve the game. I mean, who would argue that a player like myself or an Enes Kanter (Freedom) or in the future, maybe a LeBron James after he expires in the NBA, maybe he wakes up and he realizes he\u2019s a woman as well, who could argue that wouldn\u2019t make the women\u2019s game better?”<\/p>\n

WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert sent a letter to teams on Friday addressing concerns over the inclusion of transgender athletes in the league as White and Kanter Freedom said they wanted to declare for the draft.<\/p>\n

CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM<\/strong><\/p>\n

“I know many of you have received questions in recent weeks regarding transgender athlete participation in women\u2019s basketball, and I expect this topic will continue to receive significant attention,” Engelbert wrote in the memo, per The Associated Press.<\/p>\n

“I wanted to reach out to share how we are approaching these conversations at the league office and to thank those of you who have responded to questions from the media with thoughtfulness and professionalism.”<\/p>\n

Engelbert went on to call the debate “nuanced.”<\/p>\n

“We recognize that this is a complex and nuanced topic, and we will continue to have important conversations with all of you and the Players Association in the weeks and months ahead,” Engelbert said in the memo. “We also plan to convene additional discussions and offer listening sessions for any team leaders who would like to participate. Your perspectives and feedback are invaluable, and I appreciate those who have already reached out to share their thoughts.”<\/p>\n

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP<\/strong><\/p>\n

As far as the WNBA Draft, White said on “Fox & Friends Weekend” he was “having a blast in my feminine era.”<\/p>\n

“I never thought that I was a woman I always trusted the science,” he said. “I thought that I was a man my entire life. After further review, strong look at my personal preferences, it would appear, indeed, that sometimes I identify as a transgender woman. And I think it\u2019s only fair that I get a chance to play with some of my queens here in the twilight of my career, my athletic prime.”<\/p>\n

Fox News\u2019 Dan Zaksheske contributed to this report.<\/i><\/p>\n

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Ryan Gaydos is a senior editor for Fox News Digital.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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