Former NBA Center Enes Kanter Freedom Ejected From WNBA Game Following Courtside Confrontation

Enes Kanter Freedom, an 11-year NBA veteran attempting to transition into women’s professional basketball, was escorted from Wintrust Arena during the third quarter of Sunday’s matchup between the Indiana Fever and Chicago Sky following a contentious verbal exchange with guard Natasha Cloud. The incident occurred during a timeout when Cloud began directing words toward Freedom, who was seated at courtside, prompting the former center to respond and move toward the playing surface before security intervened.

Freedom immediately took to social media following his removal, posting on X that he had been “kicked out of a @WNBA game for supporting WOMEN” and asserting that women were “hating on other women.” He arrived at the arena wearing a shirt displaying the definition of “woman,” a statement that apparently escalated tensions with Cloud and other members of the Chicago team.

The confrontation represented the culmination of several provocative actions Freedom undertook throughout the day. He posted a halftime photo outside a restroom with a caption referencing WNBA rules, and he documented what he characterized as a hostile pregame scene where progressive fans confronted him outside the arena, with security forming a protective barrier around the 6-foot-10 former player.

When asked about the ejection after the game, Sky forward Azura Stevens characterized the matter as a routine fan incident handled by security and declined to elaborate further. The Indiana Fever defeated Chicago 113-90, with Caitlin Clark leading the offensive effort. The Chicago Sky and Wintrust Arena management did not immediately respond to requests for comment.