Enes Kanter Freedom Ejected After Confrontation at Fever-Sky Game

Former NBA center Enes Kanter Freedom was ejected from Wintrust Arena on Sunday night following a courtside confrontation with Chicago Sky guard Natasha Cloud during the Sky's WNBA game against the Indiana Fever. The Associated Press reported that the exchange occurred late in the third quarter, with security and Chicago players stepping between them.

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Freedom was seated along the baseline wearing a shirt carrying a message about the definition of a woman. According to the AP report published by The Guardian, the Fever called a timeout after Cloud scored with 1:22 remaining in the third quarter. Cloud celebrated with teammate Aicha Coulibaly, then turned and approached Freedom while yelling and pointing toward him.

Freedom stood, extended his arms and took a step onto the court as security personnel and several Sky players moved in. Arena staff then escorted him away from the playing area. He stopped near the basket while disputing his removal, displayed his shirt to the crowd as he left and spoke with police officers before departing the arena.

Cloud met with team and league security after the game but did not address reporters. Chicago forward Azura Stevens characterized the episode as a fan incident that security handled. Sky coach Tyler Marsh said Cloud had worried that the confrontation distracted the team, but he told her it had not and expressed the organization's support for her.

Indiana star Caitlin Clark said she did not see the incident because the Fever were discussing their next play during the timeout. Chicago went on to lose the game 113-90. Marsh later said spectators should come to games to enjoy the basketball and emphasized that WNBA players had earned that focus.

The confrontation followed public criticism by Freedom of the WNBA's approach to transgender participation. The AP noted that no transgender woman has played in the league. It also reported that the WNBA collective bargaining agreement restricts the competition to women but does not provide more specific language concerning gender identity or sex assigned at birth. The league had not announced any additional action connected to the courtside incident in the report.