“I’m Disappointed”: Charles Barkley Calls Out Adam Silver & Cathy Englebert for Transgender Controversy in WNBA

The transgender athlete debate in the WNBA reached a new level of visibility after Enes Kanter Freedom protested and was ejected courtside in Chicago. Charles Barkley has now entered the conversation with a blunt assessment of how the league's leadership handled it.

Charles Barkley said he is “disappointed” in NBA commissioner Adam Silver and WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert.

“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,” Barkley said on Michael Smerconish’s SiriusXM radio show via Brick Center. “I’m disappointed in Adam Silver and Cathy [Engelbert], the commissioner.”

He said he supports transgender people but does not believe biological males should compete in women’s sports. In his view, the absence of a firm public stance from Silver and Engelbert allowed the topic to spiral onto the internet and into political arenas. “They should have come out two weeks ago, before all this, because people are looking for attention now,” he said.

The controversy had already been building. Comments from Sophie Cunningham about protecting girls’ sports and subsequent declarations by former NBA players, including Kanter Freedom, kept the issue in the headlines.

Kanter appeared at a Chicago Sky game. He wore a shirt defining “woman” and was later ejected after a confrontation, pushing the debate further into the spotlight.

Charles Barkley Says Silver and Engelbert Should Have Ended the Debate Weeks Ago

Barkley’s assessment was direct. He said the commissioners should have stated that “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.”

He added that the league should have declared the matter closed. Rather than allowing it to be turned over to “the fools on the internet” or Congress. “The WNBA is for women only, period. And we’re not going to discuss it again.”

Barkley criticized Kanter for seeking attention. He also agreed that the former player “has a point.” The main issue, in Barkley’s view, is that leadership of the league never issued the clear boundary that would have prevented the issue from dominating the conversation. Silence created the opening.

Charles Barkley has long been one of the most outspoken voices in basketball media. On this issue, he drew a firm line on fairness while affirming personal respect for transgender individuals.

His disappointment is aimed at Adam Silver and Cathy Engelbert. For not delivering that same clarity publicly and shutting the topic down.

The comments ensure the debate will remain loud for the foreseeable future.