FORMER NBA center Enes Kanter Freedom was escorted out of Wintrust Arena during the third quarter of Sunday’s WNBA game between the Chicago Sky and Indiana Fever following a heated exchange with Sky guard Natasha Cloud.
The incident unfolded during a third-quarter timeout with Indiana leading, 81-75, when Cloud appeared to direct words toward Freedom, who was seated courtside.
Freedom responded and stepped toward the court before security intervened and escorted the former NBA veteran out of the arena as fans reacted from the stands.
The 11-year NBA veteran quickly took to social media after his ejection.
“I just got kicked out of a WNBA game for supporting WOMEN! Let that sink in, AMERICA!” Freedom wrote.
He later followed it up with another post, saying, “It’s always women hating on other women.”
Freedom had drawn attention even before the incident after attending the game wearing a shirt carrying a message about the definition of a woman. He also posted from outside an arena restroom during halftime, writing, “It’s halftime and I need to use the restroom… Rules are rules.”
Following the game, Sky players Azurá Stevens and Aicha Coulibaly were asked about the incident, but Stevens declined to elaborate.
“There was just a fan incident and the security handled it. We’re going to just focus on the game,” Stevens said.
The Fever went on to defeat the Sky, 113-90.
Freedom, who played 11 seasons in the NBA, has increasingly become involved in political and social activism since his playing career. His appearance at the Sky-Fever game and subsequent removal from the arena added another chapter to his growing presence in public debates surrounding women sports and related policies. (Jesus Nathaniel Valdez)
