Former NBA player Enes Kanter Freedom stated that he and his legal team intend to pursue legal action against the Chicago Sky and team owner Michael Alter. This comes after Freedom's ejection from a recent game and his subsequent ban from future games at the Wintrust Arena.
Alter, in an interview with OutKick, explained the ejection by referencing a gun analogy. He stated that Freedom was deemed a threat when he stepped toward the court while waving his hands and pointing at a player. Alter explained that "certain threats don't get warnings," comparing it to shooting a gun, which does not warrant a warning before action is taken.
Freedom called Alter's statement "unacceptable" and stated he would seek legal action against Alter and the Chicago Sky, though he did not specify the legal cause of action or a timeline for filing the lawsuit. Freedom also requested a refund for the approximately $4,000 he paid for courtside tickets to the game.
Dispute Over Ejection and Ban
The incident occurred during the third quarter of the game between the Sky and the Indiana Fever. Alter stated that security concluded Freedom attempted to enter the court when he stood, extended his arms, and stepped toward the playing surface. Freedom, however, maintained that he did not intend to enter the court and that his movement was a final step, not an attempt to cross the baseline.
"I literally just got up, take one step forward, which was not even close to the baseline. I literally simply opened my arms and said, ‘I’m here to protect women,’" Freedom said. He added that he knew where the baseline was due to his 11 seasons in the NBA and did not approach it.
Alter acknowledged that he was unsure if Freedom crossed the baseline but argued that security did not need to wait for such an action to intervene. The WNBA Fan Code of Conduct calls for immediate ejection for guests who fight, throw objects, or attempt to enter the court. A separate provision in the WNBA Official Rule Book addresses "Verbal Fan Interference" and includes a warning for actions interfering with a coach's communication, but the provision concerning attempted court entry does not mandate a warning.
Freedom also alleged that Sky player Natasha Cloud directed profanity at him during the confrontation. Alter, meanwhile, stated that nearby spectators reported Freedom initiated the verbal interaction with trash talk directed at Cloud.
Freedom's WNBA Draft Ambitions
Freedom, who recently wore a shirt defining a woman as an "adult human female," has stated his intention to enter the 2027 WNBA Draft. He has argued that the WNBA's collective bargaining agreement allows eligibility to women without defining the term by biological sex. Freedom has said he would abandon his draft plans if the agreement explicitly limited eligibility to biological females.
Despite the ejection and ban, Freedom maintains his intention to pursue a WNBA roster spot. He also claimed to be in contact with eight other male basketball players who are reportedly considering declaring for the WNBA Draft. Freedom believes that the league's current rules allow biological males to play in the WNBA and take spots and opportunities from female players.
He asserted that the issue could be resolved by adding the word "biological" to Article 13, Section 1 of the WNBA's rulebook.