Charles Barkley Stands Firm: WNBA Should Remain For Women Only

NBA Hall of Famer and commentator Charles Barkley made a strong statement during an interview on CNN host Michael Smerconish’s podcast. He asserted that the Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) is “for women only.” His comments followed an incident where former NBA player Enes Kanter Freedom was removed from a WNBA game after being confronted by Chicago Sky guard Natasha Cloud. Freedom had worn a controversial T-shirt that sparked debate.

Barkley emphasized his respect for the transgender community but maintained that biological men should not compete against biological women in sports. He criticized the leadership of both the NBA and WNBA for not addressing the issue earlier. According to Barkley, commissioners Adam Silver and Cathy Engelbert should have spoken out sooner.

“You can’t let stupid stuff go out to the internet… They should have come out two weeks ago before all this. People are looking for attention now,” Barkley commented.

He urged the commissioners to clearly state that transgender athletes would not participate in the WNBA. Barkley firmly stated that the matter should not be open for further discussion.

Barkley also addressed the negative publicity surrounding the WNBA, citing stories like Freedom’s game removal and the backlash faced by Indiana Fever guard Sophie Cunningham for opposing biological males in female sports. He expressed disappointment that positive news about the WNBA is not common.

Jennifer Sey, CEO of XX-XY Athletics, praised Barkley’s direct approach. Independent Women ambassador Payton McNabb shared a similar sentiment, questioning why the WNBA hesitates to make a clear stance.

Director of Independent Women’s Law Center, May Mailman, acknowledged that Barkley’s comments might not change public opinion but hoped it would bring more voices to the conversation.

The WNBA faced scrutiny after Freedom and former NBA player Royce White expressed interest in joining the league amid the ongoing debate about transgender inclusion. While the WNBA rules state only women can play, they do not define what constitutes a “woman.” This lack of definition fuels ongoing discussions and controversies.