Former NBA player Royce White has predicted that Enes Kanter Freedom will face a suspension from WNBA events following his courtside exchange with Chicago Sky guard Natasha Cloud during an Indiana Fever game. White, who has declared for the 2027 WNBA Draft himself to challenge league eligibility policies, stated on 'Don't @ Me w/ Dan Dakich' that he anticipates the WNBA will take decisive action.
"I just know how the business works and how the PR works, and they're going to say that he instigated a conflict with a player, and there is an immutable line between the spectators and the players," White explained. He suggested the league might issue an indefinite suspension or ban from WNBA events, drawing a parallel to the penalty for a fan who threw an object on the court.
The incident occurred during the third quarter of the Indiana Fever's 113-90 victory over the Sky in Chicago. Security escorted Freedom, who was seated courtside, from the arena after an exchange with Cloud. Freedom later shared his account of the interaction, stating that Cloud began shouting at him after he raised his hands to celebrate a teammate's shot. He described Cloud's comments as aggressive and surprising, especially given the presence of young fans.
Freedom stated that he was present to "protect women and support her," in reference to Fever player Sophie Cunningham, who had recently faced backlash for expressing her view that women's sports should be exclusive to biological females. Freedom and White both declared for the 2027 WNBA Draft in an effort to prompt the league to clarify its eligibility standards.
The WNBA's collective bargaining agreement currently states that "only players who are women are eligible to play in the WNBA," but it does not provide a specific definition or eligibility requirements for transgender athletes.