Enes Kanter Freedom Banned from Chicago Sky Games after Courtside Incident

Former NBA player Enes Kanter Freedom attended a Chicago Sky game against the Indiana Fever. During the game, he was ejected for a heated argument with Sky’s Natasha Cloud from a courtside area. In response, the Sky have banned Kanter Freedom from attending any future games at their venue indefinitely.

Sky owner Michael Alter spoke about the ban, indicating that Kanter Freedom will not be allowed back into Wintrust Arena “unless sometime in the future, he’s able to prove to us that he’s able to abide by our rules without being a potential threat.” Alter had discussions with others seated nearby, confirming that Kanter Freedom initiated the engagement with Cloud, leading 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 commented on the interaction.

Although Kanter Freedom did not step onto the WNBA court, standing up and approaching a player was seen as turning himself into a threat, according to Alter.

Kanter Freedom, the No. 3 pick in the 2011 NBA Draft by the Utah Jazz, also played for the Oklahoma City Thunder, New York Knicks, Boston Celtics, and Portland Trail Blazers. In recent weeks, he gained attention for a social media video expressing his intent to declare for the 2027 WNBA Draft unless the league alters its transgender participation policy.

During the Sky-Fever game, Kanter Freedom wore a shirt reading, “WOMAN noun: adult human female.” His courtside interaction with Cloud resulted in an ejection and an indefinite ban from Sky games.

Natasha Cloud has been a WNBA player since 2015 and was part of the Washington Mystics 2019 championship team. She earned a spot on the WNBA All-Defensive First Team and led the league in assists in 2022. Cloud did not comment on the confrontation at the postgame press conference. However, a Sky spokesperson confirmed she spoke with team and league security afterwards.

Sources suggest the WNBA will not impose a league-wide ban on Kanter Freedom after the confrontation with Cloud.