Matt Gaetz Provides Legal Support to Royce White in WNBA Draft Bid

Former U.S. House of Representatives member, Matt Gaetz from Florida, is offering legal guidance to ex-NBA player Royce White in his pursuit to join the WNBA. White officially declared for the 2027 WNBA Draft, with Gaetz and his law firm, Gaetz Law, sending the formal notification directly to the WNBA league office.

“Gaetz Law is currently providing legal counsel to Royce White. Royce White changed how the NBA thinks about player mental health. Now Royce White is an inspirational voice for Black transexual lesbians everywhere who aspire to play in the WNBA,” Gaetz stated to Fox News Digital.

The draft declaration, crafted by Gaetz, asserts White’s eligibility based on her identification as a transgender woman, aligning with Article XIII, Section 1(a) of the 2026–2033 Collective Bargaining Agreement between the WNBA and the WNBPA.

In the political realm, President Donald Trump initially selected Gaetz to be Attorney General following Trump’s election in November 2024. Gaetz resigned from Congress to accept the position. However, he eventually withdrew his nomination due to bipartisan scrutiny and controversy which could hinder Senate confirmation, citing ongoing House Ethics Committee investigations and prior federal probes. These investigations included allegations of sexual misconduct and illicit drug use, which Gaetz denied as baseless and politically motivated.

White, who previously communicated with Fox News Digital, expressed his intent to pursue legal action if undrafted and unsigned by teams. He stated, “I have to file a discrimination lawsuit, right? I mean, that’s, that’s ridiculous,” advocating for a significant legal challenge over discrimination if prevented from playing.

The WNBA’s gender eligibility criteria have faced recent criticism, as current policies do not specify that only biologically female athletes can compete. White announced his Senate run alongside his WNBA ambitions but lost the primary for a Minnesota U.S. Senate seat on Aug. 11. Despite winning the Republican nomination, he was defeated by incumbent Democratic Senator Amy Klobuchar.

Jackson Thompson, a sports reporter for Fox News Digital, covers pivotal political and cultural issues in sports with an investigative approach. His work has been noted in federal government actions related to Title IX enforcement and featured in major media outlets such as The New York Times and ESPN.com.