Enes Kanter Freedom was ejected from a WNBA game on Sunday after a courtside confrontation with Natasha Cloud. The Chicago Sky guard approached the former NBA center during her team's loss to the Indiana Fever, after Kanter Freedom previously voiced support for the anti-trans athlete rallies surrounding some WNBA games.
Why Was Enes Kanter Freedom Ejected From a WNBA Game?
The exchange began late in the third quarter. Cloud had just converted a layup with 1:22 left in the period. As the Fever called a time out, she turned and directed words at Kanter along the baseline.
He wore an anti-trans athlete t-shirt reading "WOMAN noun. adult human female." He then stood and stepped toward the court before security and Cloud's Sky teammates intervened. Officials removed Kanter shortly afterwards, with security escorting him from the arena as fans jeered.
WNBA Responds to Enes Kanter Freedom's Draft Declaration
The confrontation came amid a broader dispute. Kanter and former NBA player Royce White recently declared for the 2027 WNBA Draft, claiming to identify as women.
The league later stated there are "no immediate eligibility matters" concerning trans athletes and denounced "bad-faith efforts to demean or marginalize others."
Cloud shared a message with fans on Threads following the dustup saying, "To every trans kid/person, you are apart of MY community...You’re perfect as you are and you will always be protected by me."
Meanwhile, Chicago coach Tyler Marsh backed Cloud during the team's postgame press conference.
"We all embrace her as someone who protects our team and people who need to be protected," he said.
"There's so much good things about this league and so many good things about the play of these players. If you come to a game, you should probably come to enjoy the basketball. That seems pretty simple to me. I think these players deserve that and have earned that."
