Natasha Cloud, Enes Kanter Freedom Confrontation Brings WNBA Debate Courtside

Former NBA player Enes Kanter Freedom was removed from Sunday night’s game between the Chicago Sky and Indiana Fever following a confrontation with Sky guard Natasha Cloud at Wintrust Arena.

Freedom was seated along the baseline wearing a shirt with a message about the definition of a woman. Late in the third quarter, Cloud scored before Indiana called a timeout with 1:22 remaining. She then approached Freedom and pointed in his direction. Freedom extended his arms and stepped onto the court before security intervened. Sky players also helped separate the two.

Freedom was escorted from the court area, displaying his shirt as he left. He later spoke with police officers before departing the arena. Cloud met with Sky and WNBA security following the game but did not speak with reporters.

The dispute followed a controversy Freedom helped start earlier this month. He and fellow former NBA player Royce White announced plans to declare themselves eligible for the 2027 WNBA Draft amid the debate surrounding transgender participation in women’s sports. Both men claimed to identify as women for the purpose of playing in the league.

Freedom argued his declaration met what he characterized as the WNBA’s requirements surrounding gender identity. White made a similar announcement, saying he would enter next year’s draft and joking about what he could contribute on the court.

Jemele Hill responded to their declarations by questioning the premise behind them. The journalist compared their announcements to a well-known scene from The Office, where Michael Scott believes announcing bankruptcy aloud is enough to make it legally binding.

“Royce White and Enes Kanter declaring for the WNBA draft reminds me of that episode of The Office where Michael Scott shouted I declare bankruptcy in the middle of the office because he thought that’s what the phrase meant,” Hill wrote.

Sunday’s confrontation brought the debate into a WNBA arena, where Freedom’s shirt drew Cloud’s attention during the game. Afterward, Sky head coach Tyler Marsh defended his player and said Cloud had been concerned her actions might have taken attention away from the team.

“Tash didn’t want to feel like she was a distraction; I told her she wasn’t,” Marsh said. “I told her that we all embrace her as someone that protects our team and protects the people that need to be protected. And so Tash is always going to stand on that, and then we stand for Tash.”

Marsh was later asked about people who have used WNBA games and discussions surrounding the league to protest transgender athletes in women’s sports. He referred reporters to comments he had previously made on the issue before addressing what he believes should bring people into the arena.

His final remarks appeared to speak directly to Freedom’s presence at Sunday’s game, particularly given his own history as a professional basketball player.

“There’s so much good things about this league and so many good things about the play of these players. And if you come to a game, you should probably come to enjoy the basketball, and that seems pretty simple to me,” Marsh said. “I think these players deserve that and have earned that. And being a former basketball player, you should probably understand and feel that, too.”