IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
Charles Barkley is chiming in on the WNBA transgender debate.
For the past two weeks, former NBA player Enes Kanter went viral when he declared for the WNBA draft
Things come to a head this week when Kanter was confronted by WNBA player Natasha Cloud during the Chicago Sky-Indiana Fever game.
Enes Kanter GOT INTO IT with a WNBA player and was KICKED OUT the arena 😳 pic.twitter.com/DCBhO8ZPhD
— BrickCenter (@BrickCenter_) August 24, 2026
The WNBA has refused to address the ambiguity in their transgender policy which has allowed Kanter to grab headlines.
During a recent appearance on the Michael Smerconish show on Sirius XM, Barkley slammed both NBA & WNBA commissioners for not putting an end to the Kanter debate by simply saying only women can play in the WNBA.
“First of all, I always support the gay community. 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. I’m disappointed in Adam Silver and Cathy [Engelbert], the commissioner.”
“Because Cathy and Adam haven’t said, ‘Hey, it’s in the title. WNBA. 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 before they turned it over to the internet and every fool, idiot, and jackass to have an opinion on. Adam should come out [and say], and Cathy, I like both of them a lot — ‘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.’
“Enes is trying to get attention. Listen, if he did all the operations things — no, we’re not doing that either. [Silver and Engelbert should have said] ‘The WNBA is for women, and listen, this is the last time we’re going to discuss it. We’re not going to turn it over to the fools on the internet. We’re not going to turn it over to Congress. The WNBA is for women only, period. And we’re not going to discuss it again.’”
💥NEW: Charles Barkley *UNLOADS* on commissioners for not opposing trans athletes in WNBA💥
“Under NO circumstances do I think men should play against women. ZERO! I’m DISAPPOINTED!”
“Adam [Silver] should come out — and Cathy [Engelbert] … ‘There’s no transgender people going… pic.twitter.com/ev3DXhiUWq
— Jason Cohen 🇺🇸 (@JasonJournoDC) August 25, 2026