Enes Kanter Freedom Escorted From WNBA Game After Clash Over ‘Woman’ Shirt [VIDEO]

Adriana Stone 0 2 min read

Enes Kanter Freedom Escorted From WNBA Game After Clash Over ‘Woman’ Shirt

Former NBA star Enes Kanter Freedom was escorted out of Wintrust Arena during the Indiana Fever-Chicago Sky game after a heated courtside confrontation with Chicago guard Natasha Cloud.

Freedom was seated near the baseline wearing a black shirt that displayed a simple biological definition: “WOMAN — noun. adult human female.”

The message quickly became the center of attention. Freedom posted a photo of the shirt on X with the caption shown below.

The confrontation reportedly erupted in the third quarter. Cloud scored inside for Chicago, then turned toward Freedom as the Fever called a timeout. She pointed in his direction and shouted.

Freedom stood up and held out his arms. He took one step toward the court. Security personnel, officials, and several Chicago players moved between the two sides. An official then ordered Freedom away from his courtside seat.

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The 6-foot-10 former center briefly protested as security escorted him toward the lobby. He held out his shirt so the crowd could see it while hostile fans booed, jeered, and made obscene gestures.

Freedom later spoke with police officers before leaving the arena, according to NBC San Diego.

He responded on X after the incident: “I just got kicked out of a @WNBA game for supporting WOMEN! Let that sink in, AMERICA!”

Freedom followed with another pointed message: “It’s always women hating on other women.”

Cloud did not speak with reporters after the game but reportedly met with league and team security. Chicago Sky coach Tyler Marsh defended Cloud, saying she was protecting her teammates and “people who need to be protected.”

Freedom said the dispute began after he celebrated a three-pointer by Fever guard Sophie Cunningham.

“Sophie Cunningham shot a three, and I put my hands up to celebrate,” Freedom said. “Literally, a couple possessions later, Natasha came back and started screaming and yelling and said, ‘She’s not gonna sleep with you.’

“And I was like, ‘I am not trying to sleep with her. I’m just here to protect women and support her.’ And then, obviously, after that she started yapping, and she started to walk towards me, and literally I just got up, and then I was like, ‘I’m just here to protect women, and that’s all.’”

Freedom also criticized the language he said Cloud used during the exchange.

“She started to yell. She started to use some very heavy language. She started to actually cuss, and I was very shocked that there were a lot of kids and that there were a lot of teenagers at that game,” Freedom said.

“I just cannot believe that she was just cussing and using those F-bombs in front of all these kids. I’m sure she’s loved in Chicago and many kids are idolizing her and stuff, but that’s not how a WNBA athlete should react.”

In another account, Freedom repeated that he was supporting Cunningham as a friend.

“I was cheering for my friend Sophie because when she shot that three, I put my hands in the air,” Freedom said. “A couple possessions later, she came back and said, ‘She’s not gonna sleep with you.’ And I was shocked. I was like, ‘Listen, I’m not trying to sleep with her. I think she’s awesome. She’s a good friend.’ But I think it has a lot to do with my shirt.”

The Fever went on to defeat the Sky, 113-90.

Freedom and Cloud have clashed before. In 2023, Cloud declared that America was “trash in so many ways.” Freedom, who personally experienced political persecution under Turkey’s authoritarian regime, fired back by offering to buy her a ticket to China, Russia, Iran, North Korea, Venezuela, Cuba, or Turkey.

“People have NO idea how lucky and blessed they are to be in a country like America,” Freedom wrote at the time.

He added: “Just ask your colleague Brittney Griner how “trash” America is.”

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