Chicago – In a press conference on Saturday, Chicago Sky guard Natasha Cloud refused to name former NBA player Enes Kanter Freedom, calling him an “irrelevant person” and shifting the conversation to what she says truly matters to families in the city.
Cloud’s remarks focus on women and children
“I won’t be talking about anything that happened with an irrelevant person,” Cloud told reporters. “What I will focus on is what actually affects women and children.” She added that the league’s cultural distractions stem from “men” and that the Sky’s leadership had acted appropriately to protect the team.
Incident that sparked the ban
The confrontation occurred late in the third quarter of the Sky’s Aug. 23 loss to the Indiana Fever at Wintrust Arena. Freedom, sitting courtside in a shirt that defined a woman as an “adult human female,” raised his hands to celebrate a shot by Fever guard Sophie Cunningham. Cloud later turned toward him and, according to Freedom, said, “She’s not going to sleep with you.” The two exchanged words before Cloud approached, yelled, and pointed at Freedom.
Security intervened as Freedom stood, extended his arms, and stepped toward the playing surface. Arena security, NBA security, and Chicago police deemed him a potential threat. Freedom maintains he never intended to enter the court and had already taken his final step when stopped.
Team ownership backs the decision
Sky principal owner Michael Alter announced two days later that Freedom is banned from future Sky games at Wintrust Arena unless he can demonstrate compliance with the organization’s rules and show he does not pose a threat. Cloud praised Alter, general manager Jeff Pagliocca, and coach Tyler Marsh for their handling of the incident, saying, “We’re asking for protection, and that’s what protection looks like from a man.”
“We can’t allow him in the arena before the game, but after the game we can bring solutions to the table that best benefit putting our players first and protecting our players,” Cloud said. She urged the WNBA to follow the Sky’s lead.
WNBA code of conduct and future steps
The WNBA Fan Code of Conduct permits teams to eject spectators, revoke tickets, and prevent individuals from attending future games. It also states that a guest who attempts to enter the court can be immediately removed. Alter has not outlined a formal reinstatement process, saying Freedom must prove he understands his conduct was unacceptable before any ban could be lifted.
Cloud’s broader cultural criticism
When asked why the WNBA continues to face “heightened controversies,” Cloud answered with a single word: “Men.” She continued, “The men now that are like, ‘Oh, we need to protect the WNBA,’ y’all were the same ones saying we shouldn’t be paid, that we’re a joke, the same ones that don’t respect Black women.” Cloud emphasized that protecting women means protecting all women, including Black women and trans women, while also condemning what she sees as the league’s focus on “trans human beings,” “drag queens,” and the “gay community.”
Cloud scored 14 points on Saturday as the Sky fell to the New York Liberty, 85‑66, but her comments have already sparked a broader conversation about the role of gender issues in professional sports and the need for safety and respect for players and fans alike.
Original reporting: Fox News (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
