Enes Kanter Freedom Ejected from WNBA Game Following Confrontation

During a recent game at Wintrust Arena, former NBA player Enes Kanter Freedom was removed from his seat in the third quarter after a heated exchange with Chicago Sky guard Natasha Cloud. This incident occurred amid a match between the Indiana Fever and the Sky.

Freedom, who was wearing a shirt that stated “WOMAN noun. adult human female,” reportedly stood up and gestured as Cloud approached him. Witnesses described Cloud as yelling angrily and stepping closer while hurling insults. The situation intensified during a timeout, leading to intervention from arena security to separate the two.

It’s noteworthy that ejections from professional sports events for merely wearing a shirt with a message are quite rare. Generally, arena policies don’t result in removal over clothing unless it explicitly violates rules—like featuring profanity or graphic content.

After being escorted out, Freedom shared his perspective, claiming that the incident started when he cheered for a three-pointer made by Fever player Sophie Cunningham, who has taken a firm stance against allowing transgender-identifying males to participate in women’s sports. Freedom mentioned that Cloud confronted him later, using more harsh language and personal attacks regarding his presence at the game.

“I just got kicked out of a WNBA game for supporting WOMEN! Let that sink in, AMERICA!” he posted on social media.

This confrontation underlines Freedom’s ongoing advocacy regarding WNBA eligibility and transgender issues in sports. Earlier this month, he, along with former NBA player Royce White, jokingly announced plans to enter the 2027 WNBA Draft, claiming to identify as a woman to challenge the current league’s eligibility criteria.

Before the game, Freedom participated in a demonstration outside the arena showing support for Cunningham’s views against transgender athletes in women’s leagues.

After the game, while Cloud did not engage with the press, she took to social media to express her strong support for the transgender community. She stated:

“To every trans kid/person, You are part of MY community & tribe. You belong. You’re loved. You’re seen. You’re perfect as you are. & you will always be protected by me,” she wrote on Threads, a platform noted for its progressive stance.

Sky coach Tyler Marsh also expressed his support for Cloud in a postgame interview, highlighting her role in advocating for her teammates and the transgender community while reminding spectators, including former players, to exercise respect towards the game.