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CHICAGO — Former NBA player Enes Kanter Freedom was removed from Wintrust Arena after an altercation on Sunday with Sky guard Natasha Cloud.
After Cloud scored a layup late in the third quarter of Sunday’s game between the Sky and Fever, she appeared to say words toward the courtside baseline where Freedom was seated. Freedom stood up and put up his hands before he was quickly approached by arena security and escorted out of the court.
Wintrust Arena fans, which included a mix of Fever and Sky supporters, mostly booed the former NBA player as he walked out.
Freedom, an 11-year NBA veteran who last played in the NBA in 2022, arrived at the game wearing a shirt that read: “Woman noun. Adult human female.” He was briefly surrounded by security at the entryway of the Wintrust Arena before he was told to leave.
“I’m supporting women, and that is the reason they are kicking me out. That’s unacceptable,” Freedom, 34, told security, as seen by Front Office Sports.
Freedom has challenged the WNBA’s gender eligibility rule in recent weeks, claiming he will join the 2027 WNBA draft by identifying as a woman.
Regarding gender eligibility, the WNBA collective bargaining agreement states in Article XIII Section 1 (a): “Only players who are women are eligible to play in the WNBA.” But the CBA does not include specific language around gender identity.
Trista Smith, a Fever fan, said she was seated beside Freedom at the game and that he did not say anything or initiate the altercation with Cloud.
“Natasha Cloud made a basket, came and got in his face, so he stood up, put his hands up and she was talking to him. That’s it,” Smith told reporters.
Smith followed Freedom to the entranceway of Wintrust Arena before he was ultimately removed by security. “I saw him get pulled out, and I just think it’s not fair. I don’t agree with it,” Smith said.
Smith said she did not know Freedom before attending this game.
The WNBA did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Cloud did not speak to the media after the game. A Sky spokesperson said she met with team and league security to discuss the incident.
Sky forward Azurá Stevens gave a short response when asked about the incident: “There was just a fan incident, security handled it, and we’re just going to focus on the game.”
Sky head coach Tyler Marsh said Cloud told the team after the game that she didn’t want to be a distraction, and they reassured her that she was not: “I told her that we all embrace her as someone that protects our team and protects people that need to be protected. Tash is always going to stand on that, and we stand for Tash.”
