A T-shirt with the simple definition of a woman led to former NBA star Enes Kanter Freedom being ejected from watching a WNBA game Sunday night between the Indiana Fever and Chicago Sky.
The uproar took place at the Wintrust Arena as Freedom, who recently said he was looking to identify as a woman to join the WNBA, sported a shirt with the biological definition: “WOMAN – noun. adult human female.”
Careful what you wish for, @WNBA
Freedom of speech never looked this good. 💅🏽
Somehow controversial.🤷🏻♂️ pic.twitter.com/TZRa2M3mxc
— Enes Kanter FREEDOM (@EnesFreedom) August 24, 2026
OutKick reports:
Freedom, who was sitting near the baseline at Wintrust Arena, said the confrontation began after he celebrated a 3-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 [Cloud] 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.'”
Video of the incident showed Cloud walking toward Freedom, yelling and pointing at him late in the third quarter. Freedom stood, extended his arms and took a step onto the court as security and Sky players moved between them.
Freedom said Cloud then began using profanity in front of young fans.
“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. …
“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.”
🚨 JUST IN: Former NBA player Enes Kanter Freedom is getting MASSIVE support nationwide after he was EJECTED from the game while wearing a shirt with the definition of “woman”
The player YELLED at him, “Sophie Cunningham’s not gonna sleep with you!” 🤡
Then Enes walked a few… pic.twitter.com/o3V6yF96Jv
— Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) August 24, 2026
As the 6-foot-10 Freedom stood up and held out his arms, he was rushed by game officials, arena security and several players from the Chicago team before he was ordered out of his courtside seat.
Former NBA player Enes Kanter Freedom was escorted out of Wintrust Arena on Sunday evening after Chicago Sky guard Natasha Cloud confronted him at his courtside baseline seat.
Late in the third quarter of a game between the Sky and the Indiana Fever, Cloud scored on a driving… pic.twitter.com/2CA4Awv6wO
— The Athletic (@TheAthletic) August 24, 2026
“I just got kicked out of a @WNBA game for supporting WOMEN!” Freedom posted on X. “Let that sink in, AMERICA!”
I just got kicked out of a @WNBA game for supporting WOMEN!
Let that sink in, AMERICA! 🇺🇸
— Enes Kanter FREEDOM (@EnesFreedom) August 24, 2026
“It’s always women hating on other women,” he added.
It’s always women hating on other women.
— Enes Kanter FREEDOM (@EnesFreedom) August 24, 2026
In a post on Threads after the game, Cloud sent a message to the trans community, indicating: “To every trans kid/person, You are apart of MY community & tribe. You belong. You’re loved. You’re seen. You’re perfect as you are. & you will always be protected by me.”
Tyler Marsh, the coach of the Sky, defended Cloud, telling reporters, “We all embrace her as someone who protects our team and protects people who need to be protected.”
Enes Kanter Freedom says Natasha Cloud confronted him after he celebrated a Sophie Cunningham three-pointer, telling him, “She’s not gonna sleep with you.”
He tells @JackThompsonFOX the exchange eventually ended with security removing him from the arena and says he still doesn’t… pic.twitter.com/pTIxEliq5H
— OutKick (@Outkick) August 24, 2026
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