Former NBA player Enes Kanter Freedom was ejected after a verbal altercation with WNBA player Natasha Cloud of the Chicago Sky during the third quarter of Chicago’s loss to the visiting Indiana Fever. Kanter Freedom, sitting courtside, stood up and took a few steps towards the court with his arms outstretched after Cloud began pointing and yelling at him at the start of an Indiana timeout on Sunday. A game official and security personnel got between them, and her teammates pulled Cloud away.
The official gestured for Kanter Freedom to be ejected, and he was escorted from his seat by team and arena security. Kanter Freedom, 34, wore a black T-shirt that read: “WOMAN noun. Adult human female.” Cloud, 34, spoke with team and league security after the Sky’s 113-90 loss but did not address the media. She did post a statement on social media, per CBS Sports.
You’re perfect as you are. & you will always be protected by me,” Cloud wrote. Kanter Freedom, who had a conversation with police officers before exiting Wintrust Arena, later wrote on his X account, “I just got kicked out of a @WNBA game for supporting WOMEN! Let that sink in, America.” Sky coach Tyler Marsh said at his postgame news conference that Cloud did not want to be a distraction.
Tash is always gonna stand on that, and we stand for Tash.” Marsh also had a message for spectators, apparently with Kanter Freedom in mind. I think these players deserve that and have earned that. Being a former basketball player, you should probably understand and feel that, too.” Kanter Freedom, formerly known as Enes Kanter, played centre for 11 years in the NBA for five teams from 2011-12 to 2021-22 and averaged 11.2 points, 7.8 rebounds and 21.5 minutes in 748 regular-season games (259 starts).
He also has spoken out on social issues, including the debate about transgender athletes. The WNBA, which has never had a known transgender player, has been ensnared in the issue, only heightened when the Fever’s Sophie Cunningham came out strongly in favour of women’s sports being solely for women. Cunningham emphasised in her remarks last month in an ESPN profile that “girls should never have to compete with biological men”.
Cunningham later said on July 22 that she does not “dislike anyone” and that there is “room to love everyone”. She continued, “I’m also there to love biological women, and I think that there are rights that need to be protected. And, like I said, I’m gonna stand true to that.
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