Owner of WNBA Team Faces Backlash for Comments

Michael Alter, the owner of the WNBA’s Chicago Sky, might want to reconsider his phrasing in future interviews. After an incident at Wintrust Arena last Sunday, there was keen interest in his thoughts regarding a protest by former NBA player Enes Kanter Freedom during a game between the Sky and the Indiana Fever.

Following a courtside interaction with Sky point guard Natasha Cloud, which involved him standing and raising his arms, Freedom was escorted out of the venue. Soon after, Alter announced that Freedom was banned from the arena, citing a perceived “threat” as he accused Freedom of encroaching “towards the court” and “the players.”

During a Wednesday interview with Fox News’ OutKick, Alter was asked why Freedom didn’t receive a warning prior to his ejection. He responded rather dismissively, saying, “At some point, we need to move on.” He explained that some threats simply don’t get warnings, emphasizing that Freedom had “a lot of leeway” before the incident escalated.

In a metaphor that might come back to haunt him, Alter drew a harsh parallel between Freedom’s behavior and a violent act: “When somebody— to use an extreme example— when you shoot a gun at someone, you don’t get a warning. Your action doesn’t deserve a warning.” He reiterated that actions turning into threats justify immediate consequences.

Freedom reacted to Alter’s comparison in a subsequent podcast, expressing disbelief at being likened to a shooter. He stated, “The Chicago Sky owner literally compared my actions with shooting a gun. Unbelievable,” and emphasized that Alter “needs to check himself” as his remarks were unacceptable.

Moreover, Freedom clarified that, after spending 11 years in the NBA, he’s well aware of fan-player interaction guidelines. He noted that fans crossing certain boundaries would typically be thrown out, asserting that he didn’t heckle or curse at Cloud. He maintained he was in the arena to support women, wearing a shirt that stated, “WOMAN noun. adult human female.” He claims he did not engage in trash-talking, despite Cloud’s use of foul language towards him.

Freedom hinted at potential legal action against Alter and the Sky but noted that he may not pursue the league itself. For now, he indicated he simply wants a refund as a ticket-paying fan who did nothing wrong.

Alter spoke highly of arena security, commending their swift response in removing Freedom from the arena. He remarked, “The security were there to stop him… It took a second for Chicago’s guys to get there, but they got there pretty damn fast.”

Regarding the ban, Alter stated that Freedom would remain prohibited from entering the arena until he could demonstrate that he can control his behavior.