Former NBA player Enes Kanter Freedom sues Chicago Sky over arena ejection

Former NBA center Enes Kanter Freedom filed a complaint in U.S. District Court claiming the Chicago Sky, the arena’s operator, the Metropolitan Pier and Exposition Authority and the City of Chicago violated his First Amendment rights. Freedom says he was ejected from a Chicago Sky game at Wintrust Arena on Aug. 23 after a verbal exchange with guard Natasha Cloud and subsequently barred from the venue indefinitely.

Freedom alleges he was seated courtside wearing a T-shirt stating a definition of "woman" and that he was targeted for his expressed views on gender eligibility in women’s sports. He contends that arena security and Sky officials acted together to remove him, while fans used profanity and slurs that were not addressed by staff.

"None of these fans were warned or ejected, despite profanity and racial slurs being express violations of the WNBA Fan Code of Conduct," the lawsuit states.

Freedom asserts that Cloud verbally attacked him after a timeout and that the league took no disciplinary action against her. He seeks a court declaration that the defendants infringed his free-speech rights, as well as nominal and compensatory damages.

The Sky’s owner, Michael Alter, has said the incident was mischaracterized and compared Freedom’s actions to shooting a gun, but declined to comment further. The Sky, the arena authority and the city have not responded to requests for comment.