Former NBA center Enes Kanter Freedom was ejected from Sunday night’s Indiana Fever v Chicago Sky WNBA game. The incident occurred late in the third quarter after a confrontation with Chicago Sky guard Natasha Cloud.
Freedom was seated along the baseline wearing a black shirt that stated, “WOMAN. Noun. Adult human female.” After scoring, Cloud approached Freedom, yelling and pointing in his direction. Security and several Sky players intervened.
Chicago coach Tyler Marsh stated that Cloud was concerned about being a distraction for the team, but he told her she was not. Marsh added that the team embraces Cloud for protecting the team and those who need protection. Freedom was escorted from the court area and later spoke with police officers before leaving Wintrust Arena.
The WNBA has recently been part of debates concerning the participation of transgender women in the league, though no such player has ever been in the WNBA. The league's collective bargaining agreement restricts participation to women but does not specify gender identity or sex assigned at birth.