Former NBA player Enes Kanter Freedom encounters protestors before WNBA game in Chicago
Enes Kanter Freedom was approached by a group of spectators outside the Indiana Fever-Chicago Sky game after announcing his eligibility for the 2027 WNBA Draft, prompting security intervention.
Former NBA center Enes Kanter Freedom arrived at Chicago's Wintrust Arena for the Indiana Fever-Chicago Sky matchup on Sunday and was met by a crowd of spectators who expressed opposition to his presence. Security personnel intervened as the group gathered around the 6-foot-10 former player, who was wearing a shirt that displayed a definition of the word "woman."
Freedom posted a video of the incident on social media, noting that he was confronted before the start of the WNBA game. One attendee made an obscene gesture, and another shouted remarks about his NBA career.
Kanter Freedom announced his eligibility for the 2027 WNBA Draft earlier this month, stating that his filing was intended to prompt the league to clarify its gender-eligibility rules. He told former Auburn coach Bruce Pearl that, under the league’s current regulations, a player who identifies as a woman would be permitted to compete. The WNBA has indicated that it is reviewing its eligibility criteria but has not yet released a detailed public response.
Other former NBA players, including Royce White, have also declared intent to enter the 2027 WNBA Draft following Kanter Freedom’s announcement.