Charles Barkley criticizes WNBA and NBA leadership over transgender athlete debate

Charles Barkley has criticized NBA Commissioner Adam Silver and WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert for their handling of the debate regarding transgender athletes in professional basketball. Speaking on a SiriusXM radio program, Barkley expressed disappointment that the leagues did not issue a formal statement sooner to clarify their positions, allowing the conversation to become a subject of social media controversy.

While Barkley stated that he supports the LGBTQ+ community, he expressed the view that men should not compete against women in professional sports. He argued that the lack of direct communication from league leadership allowed the issue to circulate unchecked on the internet.