Charles Barkley supports Sophie Cunningham's comments on transgender athletes
Yahoo Sports • 1 min read • Latest: Aug 25, 2026, 3:20 PM
Last updated Aug 25, 2026
Charles Barkley has come to the defense of Indiana Fever guard Sophie Cunningham following backlash over her recent comments on transgender women in sports. During an interview, Cunningham expressed concerns about the presence of transgender athletes in the WNBA, asserting the need to protect young girls. Barkley stated he was surprised by the criticism directed at her for what he described as her truthful stance. He further clarified his belief that the WNBA should officially exclude transgender women from the league, arguing that such a declaration would prevent unnecessary controversy. Cunningham stands by her comments, calling them common sense.
- •Cunningham faced backlash for her ESPN comments on transgender women in sports.
- •Barkley criticized the criticism directed at Cunningham for being honest.
- •He argues the WNBA should officially state its policy regarding transgender players.
- •Cunningham has reiterated her position is about protecting young girls in sports.
- 3:20 PMYahoo Sports — Charles Barkley defends Sophie Cunningham: ‘I can’t believe people got mad at her for telling the truth’
"Last month, Indiana Fever guard Sophie Cunningham ignited a furious debate regarding whether or not transgender women have a place in women’s sports. Cunningham has drawn sharp criticism for her comments. NBA legend and current NBA analyst Charles Barkley, however, cannot believe she faced any backlash at all. During a recent interview, Barkley spoke out…
Sources
External linksOriginal reporting and copyright belong to the linked sources. SportsNewsReport.com aggregates and links — it does not republish full articles.
Related Stories
Last 14 days
WNBA•Aug 25, 2026, 7:23 PMThe Chicago Sky are a disaster of their own making
WNBA•Aug 25, 2026, 3:35 PM‘I Am Actually Allowed to Play’ – Enes Kanter Exposes WNBA’s Rulebook After Declaring for Draft As a Trans Athlete
WNBA•Aug 25, 2026, 3:00 PMCharles Barkley weighs in on state of the WNBA and transgender athlete debate
WNBA•Aug 25, 2026, 2:41 PMDream's Allisha Gray had 4 words for Angel Reese amid historic performance
WNBA•Aug 25, 2026, 2:30 PMAngel Reese breaks WNBA single-game and single-season rebounding records
WNBA•Aug 25, 2026, 2:15 PMThe player WNBA general managers selected as most likely to win 2026 MVP award before season began