Ever since Sophie Cunningham’s stance about protecting young girls in locker rooms went viral, the Indiana Fever guard has become one of the faces of a movement protesting the inclusion of transgender athletes in women’s sports. The situation reached a point where former NBA players have even declared for the 2027 WNBA Draft in an attempt to challenge the league’s eligibility rules. But even with multiple reports claiming that they will not be eligible for the draft, Royce White has no intention of stopping.
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To make his intentions clear, the player-turned-politician recently showed up at the Indiana Fever vs. Connecticut Sun game on Friday, where Indiana Attorney General Todd Rokita was also in attendance. Oddly enough, White was reportedly seen in a blonde wig.
“The Queen has arrived. All hail, bow to the Queen Roysha… First of all, black trans lesbians matter. We’ve always mattered, we’ve always existed, we have a right to exist, and we have a right to be included and participate,” White said, revealing why he was at the game, according to a video posted to X by Outkick. “And that’s what I’m here to do. I’m here to participate and scout some of the competition as well.”
Royce White has been one of the most controversial names in the debate surrounding transgender athletes in women’s sports. He declared for the draft following Enes Kanter Freedom, the former Boston Celtics player who was recently ejected from the Wintrust Arena. Like Freedom, White has questioned the league’s eligibility rules, particularly the lack of clarity over who can qualify to play in the WNBA.
The 2026 Collective Bargaining Agreement states that “only players who are women are eligible to play in the WNBA.” However, it does not make clear whether ‘women’ refers to sex assigned at birth or gender identity.
So, with the eligibility language becoming a major point of contention, the WNBA’s anti-hate task force also addressed the issue. Earlier this month, the group, made up of team presidents and general managers, met to discuss the growing controversy. However, rather than announcing any immediate changes to the league’s eligibility rules, the task force said it would continue to approach the conversations carefully.
“There are no immediate eligibility matters affecting the WNBA, and we strongly denounce the bad-faith efforts to use these topics to demean or marginalize others,” the task force said in a statement.
That statement, however, did little to quiet Royce White, who has continued to make his presence felt in the conversation. The former NBA player showed up at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in his wig for the Fever’s game against the Sun, but he was not the only prominent figure at the arena connected to the ongoing debate.
Another voice who has remained vocal throughout the discourse is Indiana’s 44th Attorney General, Todd Rokita. When the WNBA’s anti-hate task force released its statement, Rokita was among the first to criticize the league’s response.
“A whole ‘task force’ really failed to determine that only actual women should be eligible for the Women’s National Basketball Association. Extremely embarrassing for everyone involved. 🤡” Rokita wrote on X.
His criticism of the league’s lack of action on the issue has continued, and on Friday, he was back at Gainbridge Fieldhouse alongside another prominent advocate, Riley Gaines, as the two showed their support for Sophie Cunningham.
“My friend @Riley_Gaines_ is joining me tonight at the @IndianaFever game to support @sophaller,” Rokita posted on his social media. “Sophie said what never should have been controversial: Girls shouldn’t have to compete against biological males, and they shouldn’t have to share locker rooms or other private spaces with them.”
“That’s common sense, and I’m grateful to have them both as allies in the fight to protect female athletes.”
For now, another Fever game has been dominated by conversations that have nothing to do with basketball, and as this discourse shows no sign of slowing down, the league will have to navigate the conversation while keeping the focus on basketball.