Charles Barkley called out WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert and NBA commissioner Adam Silver for not shutting down the debate of whether transgender athletes can play in the WNBA.
Barkley joined Michael Smerconish on his podcast Monday and voiced his position on the issue that has dominated talk around the WNBA since Sophie Cunningham told ESPN in July that “young girls in sport ... shouldn’t have to go against biological men.”
“I always support the gay community,” Barkley said. “I always support the transgender community. I got (nothing) but love and respect for gay people and transgender people, but under no circumstances do I think men should play against women. Zero.”
Barkley added that the WNBA “should have come out two weeks ago” to say that “there’s no transgender people going to play in the WNBA. If you don’t like it, kick rocks, and we’re not going to discuss it anymore.”
“I’m disappointed in Adam Silver and Cathy (Engelbert) the (WNBA) commissioner,” Barkley said. “First of all, you can’t let stupid stuff go out to the internet, which is one of the worst things that ever happened to the world. They should have come out two weeks ago before all this.”
On Aug. 7, former Utah Jazz player Enes Kanter Freedom declared for the 2027 WNBA draft on X. Former NBA player Royce White followed suit.
Barkley said Freedom “has a point” because of the lack of action and response by Engelbert and Silver. On Monday, sources told ESPN that the WNBA decided Freedom and White are not eligible to play in the league.
Barkley said the commissioners should say, “We’re not going to have transgender people in the WNBA, and we’re not going to discuss it again. That’s what Adam and Cathy should have done two or three weeks ago.”
Barkley considers himself a fan of the WNBA, but he said the league “has had an awful year.”
“When’s the last time they got some good publicity?” he said.
He listed rookie Olivia Miles, whom he said “should be MVP,” the WNBA’s expansion to 15 teams and the players’ raises after March’s collective bargaining agreement all as topics that should be discussed regarding the WNBA this season.
Charles Barkley on Sophie Cunningham, Caitlin Clark
Barkley commended Cunningham for publicly taking a stand on the issue.
“I can’t believe people got mad at her for telling the truth,” he said.
Barkley then briefly waded into the waters of whether other WNBA players are targeting Cunningham and her Indiana Fever teammate Caitlin Clark.
“They don’t like Caitlin (Clark),” Barkley said. “I have no idea why. She’s just a really good basketball player. Same thing with Sophie (Cunningham). She’s a good player, but I think it has something to do with sexuality, race and jealousy. I think it’s all three of them. I don’t know how you break up the percentages.”