Why was Enes Kanter Freedom ejected from the WNBA game?

Security removed him after a courtside verbal altercation with Chicago Sky guard Natasha Cloud during Sunday's Fever-Sky game in Chicago.

Why was Kanter Freedom at the game?

He has become a prominent critic of the WNBA's transgender eligibility rules and this month declared himself eligible for the WNBA draft, saying he identifies as a woman. He attended a rally supporting Sophie Cunningham before the game.

What does the WNBA's policy say about transgender players?

The collective bargaining agreement restricts the league to women but has no specific language about gender identity or sex assigned at birth.

Enes Kanter Freedom Ejected From WNBA Game After Courtside Confrontation With Natasha Cloud

Former NBA center Enes Kanter Freedom was ejected from Sunday night's Indiana Fever–Chicago Sky game after a verbal altercation with Sky guard Natasha Cloud, the latest flashpoint in the league's escalating fight over transgender eligibility. Freedom was sitting courtside in a black shirt reading "WOMAN noun. adult human female."

Natasha Cloud, then with the Washington Mystics, during a 2019 game against the Minnesota Lynx. The Chicago Sky guard confronted Enes Kanter Freedom courtside before his ejection from Sunday's game. (Lorie Shaull, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons)

The Confrontation

After scoring with 1:22 left in the third quarter, Cloud chest-bumped a teammate, then turned and walked toward Freedom, yelling and pointing. Freedom stood with his arms out and stepped toward the court before security and several Sky players moved between them. He was escorted out, displaying his shirt to the crowd, and spoke with police officers before leaving Wintrust Arena. The Fever won 113-90.

"I just got kicked out of a WNBA game for supporting WOMEN! Let that sink in, AMERICA!" Freedom posted on X. Cloud, who met with league security afterward and did not speak to media, wrote on Threads: "To every trans kid/person... You belong. You're loved. You're seen."

The Fight Behind the Fight

Freedom, who played 11 NBA seasons and became a US citizen in 2021, declared himself eligible for this season's WNBA draft this month, saying he identifies as a woman — a move aimed at the league's eligibility rules after Fever guard Sophie Cunningham said in an ESPN profile that she opposed transgender women competing in women's sports. Former NBA player Royce White did the same. Before Sunday's game, Freedom joined a small rally supporting Cunningham outside the arena.

Sky coach Tyler Marsh backed his player: "We all embrace her as someone that protects our team and protects people that need to be protected."

What Comes Next

The league's collective bargaining agreement restricts the WNBA to women but contains no specific language on gender identity or sex assigned at birth, a gap now being tested publicly. Commissioner Cathy Engelbert has accused "haters" of using the league to manufacture conflict, and with draft declarations from Freedom and White pending, the WNBA will likely be forced to clarify its rules.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why was Enes Kanter Freedom ejected from the WNBA game?: Security removed him after a courtside verbal altercation with Chicago Sky guard Natasha Cloud during Sunday's Fever-Sky game in Chicago.
Why was Kanter Freedom at the game?: He has become a prominent critic of the WNBA's transgender eligibility rules and this month declared himself eligible for the WNBA draft, saying he identifies as a woman. He attended a rally supporting Sophie Cunningham before the game.
What does the WNBA's policy say about transgender players?: The collective bargaining agreement restricts the league to women but has no specific language about gender identity or sex assigned at birth.

A. Brooks

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A. Brooks is a journalist and editor with more than seven years of experience covering world news, science, technology, and entertainment. With a background in communications and media studies, Brooks specializes in translating complex topics into clear, engaging stories for a broad audience. Their work ranges from breaking news and explainers to in-depth features, with a focus on accuracy, context, and accessible storytelling.

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