WNBA, NBA silent on transgender eligibility debate as players and coaches take the heat
On Tuesday, OutKick asked Phoenix Mercury coach Nate Tibbetts whether he agreed with Charles Barkley’s assessment that WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert is failing to get ahead of the controversy."Yeah, I’m going to leave that to the league office," Tibbetts said."That’s their job."WNBA COMMISSIONER CATHY ENGELBERT SENDS TRANS INCLUSION MEMO AFTER ENES FREEDOM, ROYCE WHITE ANNOUNCEMENTSOutKick reached out to both the WNBA and NBA for comment on Engelbert’s continued silence and Barkley’s critique.
Both leagues remained silent.NBA Commissioner Adam Silver speaks during a press conference during 2026 NBA All-Star Weekend at Intuit Dome on February 14, 2026 in Inglewood, California.(Ryan Sirius Sun/Getty Images)By keeping the door open on the eligibility debate, the WNBA and NBA leave their players and coaches to absorb the heat.
Tibbetts has previously explained why that burden is unfair.Earlier this month, while defending Indiana Fever coach Stephanie White amid backlash over her handling of the DiJonai Carrington-Sophie Cunningham incident, Tibbetts said it "really p—-s me off."ZERO BS.JUST DAKICH.
TAKE THE DON'T @ ME PODCAST ON THE ROAD.DOWNLOAD NOW!"It’s disappointing," Tibbetts said.
"Some of the things that Steph has to go through, that’s wrong.There’s no other coach in any professional sport that has to go through the stuff that she does.
It’s not fair.She’s hired to coach basketball."Coaches are hired to coach basketball, not answer for a commissioner’s refusal to define the league’s own eligibility standard.WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert speaks to the media before the 2025 AT&T WNBA All-Star Game at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Ind., on July 19, 2025.
(Getty Images)NBA Commissioner Adam Silver addresses the media prior to the game of the Memphis Grizzlies and the Orlando Magic as part of the 2026 Berlin Games on January 15, 2026 at Uber Arena in Berlin, Germany.(Mansoor Ahmed/NBAE via Getty Images)Engelbert’...