Chicago Sky Bans Enes Kanter Freedom After Courtside Incident

Former NBA player Enes Kanter Freedom attended a recent Chicago Sky game against the Indiana Fever. During the game, he was ejected after a heated argument with Natasha Cloud, a player from the Sky, while sitting courtside. Following this incident, the Sky have decided to ban Kanter Freedom from attending any future games at their venue indefinitely.

Sky owner Michael Alter commented on the ban. He stated that Kanter Freedom would not be permitted back into Wintrust Arena unless he could later prove he could comply with their rules without posing as a potential threat. Alter discussed the situation with multiple individuals seated near Kanter Freedom at the game. They confirmed that he initiated the interaction with Cloud, which led to his ejection.

“I would characterize it as trash talking, nothing personal, basketball-related, but enough to get her attention and to engage her, and, in my opinion, try to provoke her,” Alter said regarding Kanter Freedom’s remarks.

Although Kanter Freedom did not step onto the court, Alter noted that Kanter Freedom became a threat when he stood up and approached a player on the court.

Kanter Freedom, drafted by the Utah Jazz in the 2011 NBA Draft as the No. 3 pick, played for several NBA teams before his career concluded. Recently, he gained attention with a social media video where he expressed his intention to declare for the 2027 WNBA Draft unless the league altered its transgender participation policy.

At the Sky game, Kanter Freedom wore a shirt stating, “WOMAN noun: adult human female,” before engaging in a courtside altercation with Cloud that led to his ejection and subsequent ban.

Natasha Cloud, 34, has been with the WNBA since 2015 and won a championship with the Washington Mystics in 2019. She was also recognized as a WNBA All-Defensive First Team player and led the league in assists in 2022. After the game, Cloud did not address the confrontation in any press conferences. According to reports, she spoke with team and league security following the event.

Reports indicate the WNBA will not impose a league-wide ban on Kanter Freedom concerning the confrontation with Cloud.