NBA Hall of Famer Charles Barkley has made clear statements regarding the participation of transgender athletes in the WNBA. During a podcast interview with CNN’s Michael Smerconish, Barkley emphasized that the WNBA should remain exclusive to women. He reacted to a recent incident involving former NBA player Enes Kanter Freedom, who was removed from a WNBA game following a confrontation with Chicago Sky guard Natasha Cloud.
Barkley remarked that he respects the transgender community but firmly believes that biological men should not compete against biological women. He criticized the leadership of both the NBA and the WNBA, specifically commissioners Adam Silver and Cathy Engelbert, for not addressing these issues earlier. Barkley said, “I’m disappointed in Adam Silver and Cathy [Engelbert]. They should have spoken up before these controversies escalated.”
“The WNBA is for women only. Period,” Barkley stated. “If you disagree, kick rocks.”
Barkley noted that negative stories like the one involving Freedom and Indiana Fever guard Sophie Cunningham, who opposes biological males in female sports, are damaging the WNBA’s reputation. He asked, “When’s the last time you heard something positive about the WNBA? I can’t even remember.”
Jennifer Sey, founder and CEO of XX-XY Athletics, supported Barkley’s stance, saying, “Elite athletes have always known the truth about sex and sports. Charles Barkley is bold enough to speak it.” Similarly, Payton McNabb, an ambassador for Independent Women, urged the WNBA to clarify its policy: “Say the league is for women, period. What are they so afraid of?”
However, May Mailman, Director of Independent Women’s Law Center, was skeptical about the impact of Barkley’s comments on public opinion. “Men should not play in women’s sports, and everyone knows what that means,” she stated. “The real question is whether Barkley speaking up will give others confidence to do so.”
The WNBA’s rules specify that “only players who are women are eligible to play,” but they lack a definition of “woman.” The league’s controversy intensified after both Freedom and former NBA player Royce White expressed their intentions to join the league, countering support for transgender athletes.