Former NBA player escorted from Chicago WNBA game after confrontation with Sky guard
Enes Kanter Freedom was removed from a Chicago Sky versus Indiana Fever game after a heated exchange with guard Natasha Cloud, prompting security intervention and a brief statement from the Sky coach.
Former NBA forward Enes Kanter Freedom was escorted out of the Sky-Fever WNBA game at Wintrust Arena in Chicago on Sunday night following a confrontation with Chicago Sky guard Natasha Cloud during the third quarter. After Cloud made a layup, she appeared to address Freedom, who was seated nearby, and then stood up and approached her. Security personnel intervened, moving Freedom to a different location before informing him that he would need to leave the arena.
Sky head coach Tyler Marsh said Cloud did not want to be a distraction for the team and affirmed the organization’s support for her. > "I told her she wasn’t," Marsh said, adding that the team embraces her role in protecting teammates and others.
Freedom, who has publicly identified as a woman and expressed interest in the WNBA draft, was booed by spectators as he exited. He later posted on social media that he was removed for “supporting women.” Security footage showed him arguing with Chicago police officers before leaving the venue.
The incident occurred amid ongoing debate over the participation of transgender athletes in women’s sports, a topic recently highlighted by WNBA player Sophie Cunningham’s comments on protecting “young girls in sport.” The league and the Sky have not provided further comment.