Former Boston Celtics center Enes Kanter Freedom was removed from Sunday’s WNBA game between the Indiana Fever and Chicago Sky following a courtside confrontation involving Sky guard Natasha Cloud.
The exchange unfolded in the third quarter, when Cloud appeared to shout in Freedom’s direction as he sat near the court. After Freedom moved closer to the playing area, security stepped in and escorted him from the arena while boos rang out from the crowd. Video of the incident quickly began circulating online.
Freedom later addressed the ejection on X, writing, “I just got kicked out of a WNBA game for supporting WOMEN! Let that sink in, AMERICA!”
He followed up with another post, adding, “It’s always women hating on other women.”
The cause of the confrontation has not been confirmed. Freedom, however, had already drawn attention in recent days after announcing that he was declaring for the WNBA in response to league leadership saying it would discuss the definition of a woman. Continuing that theme on Sunday, the former NBA player wore a shirt featuring the definition of “woman” printed across the front.
Fox News reported that Freedom had been needling the league before he was removed. “Before getting tossed, Freedom spent the afternoon poking the bear,” the outlet noted. “At halftime, he posted a photo outside an arena restroom with the caption: ‘It’s halftime, and I need to use the restroom… Rules are rules @WNBA.’”
The outlet also described a tense scene before tipoff outside the arena, reporting that progressive fans confronted Freedom and that security formed a barrier around the 6-foot-10 former NBA center. According to Fox News, one spectator made an obscene gesture toward him, while another yelled, “You were sorry in the league!”
