NEWSCharles Barkley Says Biological Men Should Never Play in the WNBA
Charles Barkley insisted that biological men should never play in WNBA,
Aug. 26 2026, Updated 7:11 a.m. ET
Charles Barkley claimed that he doesn't think biological men should have the opportunity to play in the WNBA.
The former NBA icon recently appeared for an interview with Michael Smerconish on Sirius XM. The two touched upon many subjects during their conversation regarding the league and its future.
They eventually turned to the controversy surrounding the potential participation of trans women in the WNBA, prompting Barkley to share his thoughts.
Charles Barkley discussed Enes Kanter Freedom's courtside confrontation.
Charles Barkley Said Biological Men Shouldn't Play in WNBA
Michael Smerconish asked Charles Barkley his opinion on the recent controversy surrounding WNBA.
Smerconish brought up the topic by asking Barkley’s opinion on former NBA player Enes Kanter Freedom’s latest stunt that got him kicked out of a WNBA game recently.
The basketball player wore a black shirt to the Indiana Fever vs Chicago Sky game last week that read “Woman noun” with the definition underneath: “Adult Human Female.”
Sky’s Natasha Cloud took offence to his T-shirt, leading to a courtside confrontation and resulting in Freedom’s ejection from the arena.
“He shows up, I guess, looking for trouble, looking to be provocative, wearing a shirt” that stirred controversy, the radio host said.
Charles Barkley said men shouldn't play against women.
“He gets the confrontation he was looking for and he gets escorted out. Thought?” he asked the retired player.
“First of all, I always support the gay community. I always support the transgender community,” Barkley began.
“I got nothing but love for gay people and transgender people,” he continued.
“But, under no circumstances do I think men should play against women,” he stated.
He also admitted that he is “disappointed in Adam Silver and (Cathy Engelbert), the commissioner.”
His main issue with them seemed to be that he believes they let “stupid stuff go out to the internet,” mainly because he thinks that the internet is “one of the worst things that ever happened to the world.”
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Enes Kanter Freedom Has Made Several Provocative Posts Over the Issue Recently
Chicago Sky banned Enes Kanter Freedom from attending their gaimes at the Wintrust Arena.
Following the Sky’s loss in the game, team owner Michael Alter held a press conference on Tuesday, August 25, per WGNO.
He revealed that Freedom has been banned from attending Sky games at Wintrust Arena “unless sometime in the future he’s able to prove to us to our satisfaction that he is able to abide by our rules without being a potential threat.”
“It was pretty clear to us that his purpose of coming here was trying to be provocative and just see how much attention he could get and stir up and create,” the owner added.
Enes Kanter Freedom said he will enter for 2027 WNBA draft.
Freedom previously stated on social media that he planned to enter the 2027 WNBA draft.
“If simply declaring who you are is all that's required, then I meet every single requirement necessary to compete in the WNBA,” he wrote on X.
In another X post he stated, “The NBA G- League pays players $45,000 a year, while the WNBA top players earn $1.4 Million. Those ‘men’ could earn an extra $1,355,000 a year by just identifying as women.”
