Daily News 19

Tag: WNBA

  • Cameron Brink Attacks Enes Kanter Freedom: “He’s a stupid piece of s**t”

    Cameron Brink Attacks Enes Kanter Freedom: “He’s a stupid piece of s**t”

    Los Angeles Sparks forward Cameron Brink delivered a forceful rebuke of Enes Kanter Freedom’s public campaign targeting transgender eligibility in the WNBA, dismissing the issue as a manufactured controversy designed for attention. Speaking to The Mirror US after practice, Brink did not mince words about Freedom’s motives or the impact on the transgender community.

    Brink calls controversy a ‘non-issue’ and criticizes Freedom directly

    “For me personally, when it comes to the trans issues I believe you’re talking about, I think it’s a non-issue and it’s people trying to just come for the trans community, and I just don’t stand for that,”

    Brink told the outlet. She then added a personal condemnation of Freedom:

    “I don’t know what the f**k his name is, Enes Kanter, like he’s a stupid piece of s**t.”

    The comments arrive as Freedom continues to pressure the league into a wider political and cultural debate despite there currently being no transgender women playing in the WNBA.

    Accusations of manufactured outrage for ‘clickbait, views, and likes’

    Brink’s objection centered not only on Freedom’s position but on what she described as his exploitation of the league’s platform.

    “I think people are tuned in [to the WNBA] for the right reasons,”

    Brink said.

    “It’s great that we can all talk about things that are important and hard, and you can have your opinions on that.”

    She drew a sharp line between open discourse and what she views as opportunism:

    “But I think taking something that’s like a non-issue right now and trying to use it for clickbait, for views, for likes, and then targeting a vulnerable community is just really low.”

    That stance aligns with Brink’s previous public advocacy for inclusion in women’s basketball. She has spoken about having teammates who use they/them pronouns and has argued against players receiving attention solely based on appearance.

    “I want everyone to be accepted, not just paid attention to because of how they look,”

    Brink previously told UPROXX.

    Ejection from Chicago Sky game escalates dispute

    The latest flashpoint occurred Sunday at Wintrust Arena during the Indiana Fever–Chicago Sky game. Freedom was escorted from the building following a verbal exchange with Natasha Cloud. According to Freedom’s account, Cloud told him, She’s not going to sleep with you, after he reacted to a Sophie Cunningham three-pointer. Freedom said he responded that he was not there to sleep with her, but instead to protect women and support her.

    The Chicago Sky subsequently banned Freedom from home games, though the WNBA has not issued a league-wide ban.

    Freedom’s draft declaration adds another layer

    Earlier this month, Freedom announced his intention to enter the 2027 WNBA Draft while claiming to identify as a woman, framing the move as a challenge to the league’s eligibility framework. The argument surrounding Freedom has now moved well beyond league policy and into a broader fight over motive, publicity, and who is being affected by the debate.

    Brink left little ambiguity about her own view. She believes the WNBA is being used as a stage for a controversy that does not currently exist on the court, and that the people caught in the middle are members of the transgender community.

  • WNBA Playoff Race Heats Up: Fire Face Must-Win Against Wings as Bueckers Shines

    WNBA Playoff Race Heats Up: Fire Face Must-Win Against Wings as Bueckers Shines

    The Portland Fire travel to Dallas on Tuesday night for a critical late-season matchup that could effectively end their postseason aspirations. With a 15-22 record placing them ninth in the standings, the expansion franchise sits 6.5 games behind the eighth-seeded Wings (22-16) and has dropped two consecutive contests — a three-point loss to the Toronto Tempo followed by a five-point defeat against the Washington Mystics. Read also: Chicago Bears' All-Pro Tackle Darnell Wright Leaves Practice With Elbow Concern. Read also: Bengals Star Ja'Marr Chase Leaves Training Camp Practice After Apparent Injury.

    Dallas enters on a two-game winning streak after dismantling the Seattle Storm 92-70, a game defined by Paige Bueckers' historic shooting display. The rookie guard erupted for 32 points on perfect 6-for-6 three-point shooting in just over 26 minutes, underscoring why she has become the centerpiece of the Wings' offensive identity. Sug Sutton contributed nine points off the bench as Dallas built a commanding 34-17 first-quarter lead and never looked back.

    For Portland, the offensive burden has increasingly fallen on Carla Leite, who posted 27 points, 11 assists, and two steals in the loss to Washington. Emily Engstler added 23 points in that same game, but the Fire's inability to close tight games — both recent losses were decided by single digits — highlights the growing pains of a first-year roster learning to execute under pressure.

    The matchup carries added intrigue as a referendum on two contrasting franchise trajectories. Dallas, anchored by Bueckers' immediate superstardom, has solidified a playoff position and appears positioned to avoid the play-in tournament. Portland, meanwhile, represents the league's newest experiment — an expansion team showing flashes of competitiveness but lacking the depth to sustain winning stretches against established opponents.

    Tuesday's game at College Park Center tips at 8:00 PM ET and will be broadcast on KFAA White Feed and NBA TV, with streaming available via Fubo. For the Fire, anything less than a victory likely extinguishes their mathematical playoff hopes with only a handful of games remaining. For the Wings, a win would further cement their seeding and provide momentum heading into the postseason.

  • Charles Barkley Urges WNBA Leadership to Draw Firm Line on Transgender Athlete Participation

    Charles Barkley Urges WNBA Leadership to Draw Firm Line on Transgender Athlete Participation

    Charles Barkley has inserted himself into the intensifying debate over transgender participation in the WNBA, delivering a blunt message to league commissioners Adam Silver and Cathy Engelbert: declare the league exclusively for women and end the discussion. Speaking on Michael Smerconish's radio program, the Hall of Famer and TNT analyst framed his stance as supportive of the LGBTQ+ community while drawing a hard boundary at competitive fairness in women's sports. Read also: Study Reveals Nearly One‑Quarter of Deceased NFL Players Had CTE, Raising Fresh Safety Questions. Read also: Rugby Legend Sir Billy Boston Dies at 92: Wigan Warriors Icon Leaves Unmatched Legacy.

    The comments arrive amid a politicized atmosphere surrounding the league, which has seen its cultural profile surge alongside the rookie sensations Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese. That visibility has also made the WNBA a magnet for political stunts, most recently when Enes Kanter Freedom — the former NBA center turned human-rights activist — staged a courtside demonstration at a Fever-Sky game to protest the league's perceived openness to transgender athletes. Barkley acknowledged Kanter's ulterior motive for attention but conceded the underlying point: the league's silence has ceded the narrative to "fools on the internet" and opportunistic politicians.

    Barkley's frustration centered on leadership vacuum. He argued Silver and Engelbert should have issued a definitive statement weeks earlier — "The WNBA is for women only, period" — rather than allowing a vacuum that invited endless debate. The former MVP lamented that the controversy distracts from genuine basketball achievements, specifically highlighting the standout rookie campaign of Olivia Miles as a story deserving the spotlight.

    The episode underscores a recurring tension for the WNBA: its growing mainstream relevance inevitably drags it into broader culture-war crossfire. Unlike the NBA, which has a longer institutional history of navigating such storms, the women's league is still building its operational playbook for political pressure. Barkley's intervention, whether welcomed or criticized, signals that high-profile figures outside the league's governance structure feel compelled to fill the leadership void they perceive at the top.

  • Sophie Cunningham Serves as NASCAR Pit Road Reporter During WNBA Break

    Even with the WNBA on a midseason break for the FIBA Women’s World Cup, Indiana Fever guard Sophie Cunningham found herself in the spotlight on Sunday at the Enjoy Illinois 300 NASCAR Cup Series race at World Wide Technology Raceway near St. Louis.

    Meeting Racing and Basketball Royalty

    Cunningham attended the event in multiple capacities: as a fan, a broadcaster, and a guest on Kenny Wallace’s pre-race fanzone show. While at the track, she connected with prominent figures across motorsports and basketball, including two Hall of Famers — four-time Cup Series champion Jeff Gordon and NBA legend Michael Jordan, who co-owns 23XI Racing.

    Pre-Race Show Appearance with Kenny Wallace

    Cunningham’s appearance alongside retired NASCAR driver Kenny Wallace — known for pushing Dale Earnhardt to his final victory at Talladega in 2000 — drew a large crowd and produced several memorable moments. The former high school football kicker booted a football off the stage, accidentally knocking over a microphone stand in the process.

    During the conversation with Wallace and co-host John Roberts, Cunningham discussed the mental side of competition and getting into opponents’ heads, a tactic she has employed throughout her WNBA career. The strategy drew particular attention this season when an image of her pointing at Phoenix Mercury forward DeWanna Bonner became a viral meme.

    “I think I’ve kind of mastered that art, a little bit. I get a little feisty, if you know what I’m saying,” Cunningham said. “I do think it is part of the sport. You got to have a one-up on people, and sometimes it’s not physical, it’s the mental game.”

    Response to “Sex Symbol” Comment

    Wallace also asked Cunningham about radio host Colin Cowherd recently labeling her a “sex symbol” during a viral interview clip. Cunningham framed her response as a message to young athletes.

    “All I’m saying, for all the little girls out there, that if you want to play a sport, you can still be girly, you can still go out there and kick ass, sweat, work hard, and you can still look a certain way,” Cunningham said. “So, go do your thing.”

    Garage Area Access and Driver Interactions

    Cunningham toured the haulers in the garage area and met with several Cup Series drivers, including Carson Hocevar, Riley Herbst, Austin Dillon, Chase Elliott, and Ryan Blaney. She signed hats for Dillon’s children, prompting a warm response from the driver of the No. 3 Chevrolet.

    “We’re huge fans. We love what you stand for.”

    Elliott gifted Cunningham NAPA Auto Parts racing jackets, while Blaney presented her with a bottle of bourbon.

    USA Network Broadcasting Duties

    USA Network featured Cunningham on its pre-race coverage alongside Marty Snider, Steve Letarte, and Jeff Burton. She later served as a pit road reporter between Stages 1 and 2, wearing a broadcasting pack for the live feed. Cunningham has contributed to USA Network as an analyst during the WNBA season.

    Speaking on the pre-race show, she praised the NASCAR community.

    “You guys are salt of the earth people,” Cunningham said. “It’s been really cool to talk to them about racing cars and whatnot, but also just getting to know them outside of the track. You guys truly are amazing, and I’ve had a heck of a day and it’s been a lot of fun.”

    Later in the broadcast, Cunningham summed up her experience.

    “We’re here in Illinois with NASCAR. It’s been the best day in my entire life,” Cunningham said. “I feel like these are my people. I belong here.”

    Race Recap and WNBA Outlook

    Sunday’s race delivered high drama with a season-high 18 caution flags. Kyle Larson captured the victory in double overtime, snapping a 51-race winless streak.

    Cunningham, who grew up roughly two hours west of World Wide Technology Raceway and played collegiately at Missouri, is in her eighth WNBA season. She plays a key reserve role for the Fever, who have clinched a playoff berth. Through the current season, Cunningham averages 8.3 points, 2.3 rebounds, and 1.3 assists per game while shooting 43.4% from three-point range — the fourth-best mark in the league.

    Following Team USA’s gold-medal victory over France in the World Cup final on Sunday, the WNBA season resumes Thursday. The Fever return to action Friday, September 18, against the Toronto Tempo.