Former NBA player Enes Kanter ejected after confrontation with WNBA’s Cloud

What the report says

Former NBA player Enes Kanter Freedom was ejected from a WNBA game between the Indiana Fever and Chicago Sky after a sideline confrontation with Chicago guard Natasha Cloud, according to Al Jazeera’s report based on Reuters. The incident happened during the third quarter on Sunday in Chicago, Illinois, after Cloud began pointing and yelling toward Kanter Freedom, who was seated courtside and then stood up and moved toward the court. Game officials and arena security stepped in, and Kanter Freedom was removed from his seat.

The report says Kanter Freedom, 34, was wearing a shirt with the message “WOMAN noun. Adult human female.” Cloud, also 34, did not speak to reporters after Chicago’s 113-90 loss, but later posted a statement on social media expressing support for transgender people and saying they belonged and would be protected by her. Kanter Freedom later posted on X that he was ejected for supporting women.

Chicago coach Tyler Marsh said after the game that Cloud did not want to be a distraction and described her as someone the team supports. He also urged spectators to focus on the basketball when attending games. Al Jazeera noted that Kanter Freedom, who played 11 NBA seasons, has been active in social debates, including issues around transgender participation in sports. The article also places the exchange in the wider context of continued public arguments over gender identity and women’s sports, including discussion around WNBA eligibility rules.