On Sunday night at Wintrust Arena in Chicago, former NBA center Enes Kanter Freedom was escorted out of the Indiana Fever‑Chicago Sky game after a brief altercation with Sky guard Natasha Cloud. Freedom was seated courtside wearing a black shirt that read “adult human female,” a reference to the league’s eligibility language.
What happened
With 1:22 left in the third quarter, Cloud scored a basket and the Fever called a timeout. As the teams gathered, Cloud turned toward Freedom, who was standing with his arms extended and took a step onto the court. Security and several Sky players moved between them, and arena personnel escorted Freedom from his baseline seat. He displayed the front of his shirt to the crowd as he walked toward the lobby, where he later spoke with Chicago police before leaving the arena.
Fan code and league rules
The WNBA fan code states that guests who attempt to enter the court face immediate ejection. Neither the league, the Sky nor Wintrust Arena have publicly explained whether that rule or another factor prompted Freedom’s removal. The 2026 collective bargaining agreement for the WNBA specifies that only players who are women are eligible to play, but it does not define “women” or address athletes who identify as transgender.
Freedom’s response
Freedom posted on X, writing, “I just got kicked out of a @WNBA game for supporting WOMEN! Let that sink in, AMERICA!” A fan sitting beside him, Trista Smith, said Freedom did not speak before Cloud approached and that the guard simply came over after scoring.
Broader context
Earlier in August, Freedom announced he would declare for the 2027 WNBA Draft to challenge the league’s eligibility language. The league has not yet ruled on his declaration. League executives discussed the issue on Aug. 12 but have not announced any rule change.
Reactions from the Sky
Sky forward Azurá Stevens called the incident a “fan incident” and said security handled it during the team’s post‑game conference. Coach Tyler Marsh said the team stood behind Cloud but acknowledged personnel “had to settle Tash down a little bit.” Cloud did not appear at the post‑game news conference.
Game result
Indiana defeated Chicago 113‑90, eliminating the Sky from playoff contention.
Original reporting: The Dallas Express — read the source article.
