Enes Kanter Freedom was ejected from Sunday’s WNBA game between the Indiana Fever and Chicago Sky after a confrontation with Sky guard Natasha Cloud late in the third quarter.
Freedom, a former NBA center, sat along the baseline wearing a black shirt that read “WOMAN noun. adult human female.” The Fever called a timeout with 1.22 remaining in the quarter after Cloud scored inside. Cloud then chest-bumped teammate Aicha Coulibaly before turning toward Freedom.
Cloud, 34, began yelling and pointing at Freedom, also 34, as she approached. Freedom stood, held his arms out, and took one step onto the court before security and several Sky players stepped in. The situation escalated quickly, with Freedom later pleading his case to security as he was escorted away. He held out his shirt, encouraging the crowd to react, before speaking with police officers and leaving Wintrust Arena.
Security stepped in before physical contact
Sky forward Azura Stevens called the incident a routine fan disturbance that security handled. Chicago coach Tyler Marsh said Cloud was worried about becoming a distraction but assured her the team backed her actions.
Marsh told her she wasn’t a problem. He added that the team values her as someone who defends teammates and others who need support. Cloud has consistently taken that position, and the team stands with her.
Freedom and Cloud never touched, though the tension was clear. Security kept them separated, and no further altercation occurred. After the game, Cloud met with team and league security but did not speak to reporters.
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A broader debate in women’s sports
The WNBA has faced recent discussions about whether transgender women should be allowed to compete. No transgender player has ever participated in the league, though its collective bargaining agreement limits participation to women without defining gender identity or sex assigned at birth.
The issue has appeared before. Fever guard Sophie Cunningham stated in an ESPN profile last month that she opposes transgender girls and women competing in women’s sports. Freedom and former NBA player Royce White have publicly declared themselves eligible for the WNBA draft, claiming to identify as women. Their statements have drawn mixed reactions.
The timing of the incident added context. Freedom had attended a small rally supporting Cunningham outside the arena before the game. When asked about the confrontation, Marsh kept his focus on the players.
“If you come to a game, you should probably come to enjoy the basketball,” he said. “These players deserve that and have earned it. As a former player, you should understand and respect that.”
Indiana star Caitlin Clark, who was in the team huddle when the incident occurred, said she didn’t see it. “That’s a question for Chicago,” she said.
The Sky won 113-90, but the game’s final minutes were overshadowed by the confrontation. The league has not issued a formal statement on the ejection or the broader debate about gender and competition in women’s sports. These discussions often highlight the risks of deepening divisions in professional sports.