Charles Barkley Says WNBA Is for Women Only, Urges 2 Commissioners to Draw Clear Rule
Updated
Updated · Fox News · Aug 25
Charles Barkley Says WNBA Is for Women Only, Urges 2 Commissioners to Draw Clear Rule
1 articles · Updated · Fox News · Aug 25
Summary
Charles Barkley said the WNBA is "for women only" and faulted NBA commissioner Adam Silver and WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert for not explicitly barring transgender athletes from the league.
Barkley made the remarks on a CNN podcast after former NBA player Enes Kanter Freedom was removed from a WNBA game Sunday while wearing a shirt defining "woman" as an adult human female.
The dispute has widened as former NBA player Royce White also said he intended to join the WNBA, while the league's rules say only women are eligible but do not define the term.
Supporters including XX-XY Athletics' Jennifer Sey and Independent Women figures backed Barkley's comments, while another advocate said the backlash faced by Indiana Fever guard Sophie Cunningham shows the political risks remain high.