Former NBA player Enes Kanter Freedom has shared his account of an altercation with Chicago Sky guard Natasha Cloud during a WNBA game, stating that Cloud accused him of trying to "sleep with" Indiana Fever player Sophie Cunningham. Freedom was subsequently ejected from the game at Wintrust Arena.
According to Freedom, the incident occurred in the third quarter of the game on Sunday night. He stated he was at the game as a fan to watch the Indiana Fever. Following a three-point shot by Cunningham, Freedom raised his hands in celebration. He claims that Cloud then confronted him, yelling accusations about him attempting to sleep with Cunningham.
"I was just there to protect women and support her," Freedom told Fox News, recounting his response to Cloud. He also expressed shock at the language Cloud allegedly used, particularly in the presence of young fans.
Freedom stated that security escorted him from the arena without providing a clear reason for his removal. He later spoke with police officers at the venue.
Cloud addressed the interaction on the social media platform Threads, posting a message of support for the transgender community. "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," she wrote.
Chicago Sky coach Tyler Marsh defended Cloud's actions, stating, "We all embrace her as someone that protects our team, and protects people that need to be protected. Tash is always gonna stand on that, and we stand for Tash."
Freedom has been vocal in the ongoing discourse surrounding transgender athletes in sports. He previously declared himself for the 2027 WNBA Draft and suggested that male athletes could earn significantly more by identifying as women and joining the league. The WNBA has stated that its anti-hate task force found "no immediate eligibility matters affecting" the league and denounced "bad-faith efforts to use these topics to demean or marginalize others."