Enes Kanter Freedom leaves WNBA Finals game after private-suite dispute

Enes Kanter Freedom left Game 3 of the WNBA Finals in Atlanta on Wednesday after refusing to watch from a private suite arranged for his safety, The Associated Press reported. The former NBA player said in a halftime social-media post that he had been ejected.

Watch the highlights:

The dispute concerned where Freedom could sit inside State Farm Arena for the Atlanta Dream's game against the Golden State Valkyries. AP reported that he wanted to use his purchased seat. An arena spokesperson said the suite had been offered for his protection and that he rejected it.

Before the game, arena officials said Freedom had raised personal-safety concerns with law-enforcement agencies, the WNBA, the Dream and venue management. Their statement described the suite as his designated viewing area, with additional security. It also said state police had assigned an officer at his request. His account of being removed followed that seating arrangement.

The Atlanta visit came after a separate incident in Chicago. Roundtable reported that Freedom was escorted from the August 23 game between the Sky and Indiana Fever following an exchange with Chicago guard Natasha Cloud. Security and players intervened after he stood and stepped onto the court. The Sky subsequently barred him from attending their home games.

That earlier dispute has also moved into court. According to Roundtable, Freedom filed a lawsuit on September 3 alleging that the Chicago ejection and subsequent ban violated his First Amendment rights. Sky owner Michael Alter rejected the allegation, maintaining that the removal concerned Freedom's conduct rather than his speech. Those remain opposing positions in a separate case, not findings about Wednesday's events.

The Finals game itself had already undergone a venue and scheduling change. Roundtable reported that the league moved Game 3 from October 22 at the 3,500-seat Gateway Center Arena to October 21 at the 17,000-seat State Farm Arena. The larger venue had a concert booked for the original date. It is also scheduled to host Game 4 on Saturday.