Enes Kanter Freedom Ejected from WNBA Game After Altercation

During a WNBA game between the Indiana Fever and the Chicago Sky on Sunday, former Boston Celtics player Enes Kanter Freedom was removed from the arena after Sky guard Natasha Cloud began taunting him. Following the incident, Kanter expressed his confusion regarding the ejection.

The altercation took place in the third quarter when Cloud was seen yelling at Freedom, who was sitting courtside. As he approached the court, security stepped in and escorted him out amidst loud boos from the crowd.

In a conversation afterward, Kanter shared with OutKick that he didn’t quite understand why he was asked to leave the game. He recounted, “Sophie Cunningham shot a three, and I put my hands up to celebrate. A couple of possessions later, Natasha just started screaming, saying, ‘She’s not gonna sleep with you.’”

He continued, noting that he responded calmly, stating, “I’m not trying to sleep with her. I’m just here to protect women and support her.” As Cloud continued to shout, he stood up, reiterating his intentions to support women.

Kanter also mentioned that Cloud, someone he referred to as “an excellent player,” began using explicit language in front of young fans in the stands. “She started to yell and use some pretty heavy language. I was shocked given all the kids present at the game,” he remarked, emphasizing how inappropriate that behavior was for a WNBA athlete.

In a touching moment, he recalled that during the game, a mother and her daughter approached him, thanking him for his stance. “That was the most emotional part of the whole night,” he reflected.

Kanter suggested that his shirt, which made a statement about women, might have played a role in triggering Cloud’s response. He reminisced about celebrating Cunningham’s three-pointer and noted, “I think it has a lot to do with my shirt.”

Despite this, he assured that the confrontation wasn’t about making any political statements, and he found the reasons for his removal unclear. He asked the security personnel why he had to leave, but they simply insisted that he needed to go. “I told them, ‘Please don’t touch me; I didn’t do anything wrong,’” Freedom said, arguing that he was just supporting women.

Even as security gave him no solid reason for his ejection, he expressed concern for their job, wanting to avoid making the situation more difficult for them. “They told me, ‘We can’t give you a reason right now. Just leave, please,’” he recalled, recognizing the challenges security faces at such events.

Kanter clarified that his attendance was not a surprise to the Chicago Sky and WinTrust Arena; he had informed them ahead of time about his plans to be there. Additionally, he participated in a rally supporting Cunningham outside the venue prior to the game.