By Gloria Ogbonna
Former NBA player Enes Kanter Freedom was ejected from Sunday’s WNBA matchup between the Indiana Fever and Chicago Sky after a heated verbal confrontation with Sky guard Natasha Cloud at Wintrust Arena.
The incident occurred late in the third quarter when a timeout was called. Kanter Freedom had been seated courtside wearing a black T-shirt featuring the message, “WOMAN noun. adult human female.”
As the timeout began, Cloud appeared to approach Kanter Freedom while shouting in his direction. Kanter Freedom stood up and extended his arms as the exchange intensified.
He then moved toward the court before arena security intervened. Security personnel stepped between Kanter Freedom and the playing area and directed him to leave the arena floor.
As he was escorted out, Kanter Freedom appeared to pump his fist and gesture toward Cloud, including mimicking her talking with his hand. He also waved toward spectators and held out the message on his shirt as he made his way out of Wintrust Arena.
Before leaving the venue, Kanter Freedom also spoke briefly with a group of police officers.
The confrontation came amid an ongoing national discussion surrounding gender eligibility in women’s sports.
Kanter Freedom, who spent 11 seasons in the NBA, has been outspoken on the issue. His appearance at Sunday’s game followed comments made by Fever guard Sophie Cunningham regarding transgender athletes that sparked a broader public debate.
Following that controversy, Kanter Freedom announced that he considered himself eligible for the WNBA draft and said he identifies as a woman. Former NBA player Royce White also made a similar declaration.
The WNBA’s eligibility rules have received renewed attention as the debate has continued.
The collective bargaining agreement signed by the league and its players in March states that “only players who are women are eligible to play in the WNBA.” However, the agreement does not provide a further definition of the term “woman.”
The league also does not have a publicly available policy specifically outlining eligibility requirements for transgender or intersex athletes.
Sunday’s incident added another layer to the ongoing conversation, with the confrontation between Kanter Freedom and Cloud briefly drawing attention away from the action on the court.
It was not immediately clear whether Cloud or Kanter Freedom would face any additional disciplinary action related to the incident.
The game continued after Kanter Freedom’s removal, while security personnel maintained order in the arena.
Kanter Freedom’s 11-year NBA career included stops with several teams before he became increasingly known for his political and social activism after retiring from professional basketball.
The incident at Wintrust Arena is likely to keep the discussion surrounding gender, sports eligibility and the WNBA in the national spotlight.
Information from ESPN’s Katie Barnes and The Associated Press was used in this report.
Source ABC7
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