NBA Hall of Famer and sports commentator Charles Barkley has stated that the WNBA is strictly for women. During an appearance on CNN host Michael Smerconish’s podcast, Barkley criticized the handling of a recent incident involving former NBA player Enes Kanter Freedom. Freedom was removed from a WNBA game after a confrontation with Chicago Sky guard Natasha Cloud. The controversy arose when Freedom wore a T-shirt with the definition of ‘woman’ printed on it.
Barkley expressed his respect for the transgender community but insisted that biological men should not compete against biological women. He criticized NBA and WNBA leaders, Adam Silver and Cathy Engelbert, for their inaction on this issue. He stated that the league needs to set a clear policy: no transgender individuals should play in the WNBA.
Barkley pointed out the negative attention the WNBA has received recently, citing incidents like Freedom’s removal and the backlash against Indiana Fever guard Sophie Cunningham. He mentioned the importance of addressing the issue openly to avoid further controversies.
Jennifer Sey, CEO of XX-XY Athletics, and Payton McNabb, an ambassador for Independent Women, voiced their support for Barkley’s comments. They argued that the WNBA should assert that the league is for women only to eliminate confusion.
However, May Mailman, from the Independent Women’s Law Center, expressed skepticism about whether Barkley’s stance would change public opinion or league policies. She noted that athletes like Sophie Cunningham, who have spoken against transgender participation, faced significant backlash.
The WNBA faced further debate after Enes Kanter Freedom and another former NBA player, Royce White, indicated interest in joining the league. The current WNBA rules state that only women can play but do not clearly define ‘woman.’
For more information, readers can contact Lindsay Kornick, associate editor for Fox News Digital, at [email protected] or on Twitter at @lmkornick.
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