On Tuesday, the owner of the WNBA’s Chicago Sky banned former NBA player and Indiana Fever fan Enes Kanter Freedom from future games in his team’s arena – an impotent gesture, given that the Fever doesn’t have any games left in Chicago.
Sky Owner Michael Alter told reporters Tuesday that Kanter Freedom is banned from Chicago’s Wintrust Arena “unless sometime in the future, he’s able to prove to us to our satisfaction that he is able to abide by our rules without being a potential threat,” according to The Associated Press.
However, Kanter Freedom’s Fever has no remaining games in Chicago for the rest of the season, which ends September 24 – and Chicago has been eliminated from the playoffs, so it won’t be hosting Indiana (or anyone) in the post-season.
Alter announced the ban of Freedom in response to an incident at Sunday’s Sky-Fever game in Chicago, in which security ejected the ex-NBA star after he was accosted by Sky guard Natasha Cloud.
Video shows it was Cloud who approached Kanter Freedom, screaming, as he stood at the edge of the court with his arms raised to his side, displaying his shirt providing a definition of “woman” – something the WNBA has refused to do. The shirt read:
“WOMAN noun. adult human female.”
The league does not define what qualifies as a “woman,” opening the door for biological males to play in the WNBA by “identifying” as transgender women. In response, Freedom Kanter has publicly announced that he now identifies as a woman so that he can enter the 2027 WNBA draft.
Kanter Freedom has reportedly sent a letter to WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert, requesting an explanation for his ejection and asking for a refund of his ticket prices.
A handful of other former NBA players, most notably Royce White, have followed Kanter Freedom’s lead and declared themselves transgender women eligible for the WNBA draft.
HOLDING COURT: Former NBA center @EnesFreedom was removed from the #WNBA Indiana Fever vs. Chicago Sky game Sunday night, after exchanging words with Sky player Natasha Cloud.
Freedom had previously announced his intent to enter next year's WNBA Draft to challenge the league's…— NEWSMAX (@NEWSMAX) August 24, 2026
"SHE'S NOT GONNA SLEEP WITH YOU!"
Enes Kanter Freedom recalls the vulgar remark he says Chicago Sky guard Natasha Cloud shouted at him during the confrontation leading up to his removal from Sunday's WNBA game.
Freedom says it starts after he celebrated Sophie Cunningham… pic.twitter.com/qC773g0NIL— Fox News (@FoxNews) August 24, 2026
