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Charlamagne tha God slammed the debate over transgender participation in women’s sports, particularly the WNBA, during his “Brilliant Idiots” podcast on Sunday, saying the conversation was “ridiculous.”
“I think this s— is ridiculous,” Charlamagne said. “I don’t know why this is becoming a story again, and I cannot believe that people are falling for tricks like this right before the midterm elections. This is so dumb for Democrats to even be going back down this road having this conversation.”
The discussion came in the wake of WNBA star Sophie Cunningham, who plays for the Indiana Fever, taking a stand against transgender participation in women’s sports. Other WNBA players have said they hold the opposite views, as well as coaches, including Minnesota Lynx coach Cheryl Reeve, who recently wore a “Trans Kids Belong” T-shirt to the team’s game against the Fever.
“And I hate when they conflate two things,” Charlamagne continued. “Because guess what? I don’t know why Sophia Cunningham was asked this question, but if she’s asked, ‘Should biological men play in the WNBA?’ The answer should be no. That should be the answer from everybody.”
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Charlamagne tha God speaks onstage during Emma Grede’s “Start With Yourself” book tour launch at Adler Hall on April 15, 2026, in New York City. (Getty Images for Emma Grede)
“Should biological people that were born men play in the WNBA? No. Full stop,” Charlamagne added. “Any other thing? There is no, ‘Whoa, so are you saying transgenders don’t have a right to — ‘Man, shut the f— up. I ain’t saying nothing like that. You asked me a specific question. Do transgenders belong in the WNBA if you’re born a biological man? No. OK.”
Former NBA players Enes Kanter Freedom and Royce White have both said they intend to declare for the 2027 WBNA draft.
Charlamagne also questioned why the question of transgender participation in sports was being raised at all, suggesting athletes respond to any questions about it by saying, “Why are you asking me this?”
Loren LeRosa, who stood in for “Brilliant Idiots” co-host Andrew Schultz, gave a response, acting as somebody who asked the question of an athlete.
“This is what they would say,” she said. “Because I’m a person who believes that all people should matter. And if a person identifies as something, we’re in America, they should have a fair shot.”
Charlamagne agreed and said that had nothing to do with the WNBA.
“Identifying as a woman. Cool. You got all the right to do that. This is a free country, but you shouldn’t be allowed to play in the WNBA,” he said.
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Charlamagne tha God speaks onstage during the “Gen X to Gen Z: Bridging the Gap” Panel at the 2026 Black Effect Podcast Festival at Pullman Yards on April 25, 2026, in Atlanta, Georgia. (Derek White/Getty Images for iHeart Media and The Black Effect Podcast Network)
Transgender participation in women’s sports became a focal point for the Republican Party and President Donald Trump throughout the 2024 election cycle.
Several prominent Republicans praised Cunningham’s comments, including Vice President JD Vance, who called her “courageous.” Democrats have largely remained silent and stayed out of the Cunningham news.
Payton McNabb, an ambassador at Independent Women, told Digital, “I, of course, agree with Charlamagne that this is ridiculous. It’s ridiculous that in 2026 we’re still having to debate whether men belong in a women’s basketball league. But that’s exactly why this has become a story.”
“Sophie Cunningham gave the obvious answer, and instead of the WNBA backing her up and putting the issue to rest, we’re still waiting on the league to say the same thing,” she continued. “Men declaring for the WNBA draft are exposing an absurdity that the WNBA could end tomorrow but continue to go in a circle.”
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Indiana Fever guard Sophie Cunningham celebrates a three-point basket Tuesday, Aug. 11, 2026, during a game at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. (USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect)
Cunningham doubled down on her position at the end of July ahead of one of her games, saying, “I think I said what I said. I think it’s kind of common sense.”
“I’ll always believe in that. It’s really important to protect children, and that’s little girls who are also involved in that category,” the Fever star said.
“I’m not a very political person, but I do have beliefs. I have morals, and I’ll always stand on those,” she explained.
Cunningham also rejected the idea that her position stems from bigotry, saying defending women’s sports doesn’t mean harboring hatred toward anyone else.
“I extend love, and I don’t dislike anyone. I think there is room for absolutely everyone here,” she said, adding that she has never expressed hatred toward the trans community.
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OutKick’s Alejandro Avila contributed to this report.
