Natasha Cloud refuses to address Enes Kanter Freedom by name in first comments on ejection incident
Enes Kanter Freedom Ejected and Banned After Courtyard Altercation with Natasha Cloud
Chicago, Aug. 25 – A heated exchange between Chicago Sky guard Natasha Cloud and former NBA center Enes Kanter Freedom on Aug. 23 at Wintrust Arena ended in Freedom’s ejection from the game and a ban from all future Sky home matches. The confrontation began in the third quarter of the Sky’s 88‑74 loss to the Indiana Fever, when Freedom, who was seated courtside in a shirt that defined “woman” as an “adult human female,” raised his hands to celebrate a Fever basket. Cloud allegedly approached him, saying, “She’s not going to sleep with you,” which prompted an exchange of words and a physical altercation that prompted security to intervene.
Freedom said he never intended to step onto the court, describing himself as a “potential threat” to security and police. The Sky’s principal owner, Michael Alter, announced two days later that Freedom would be barred from future Sky games at Wintrust Arena unless he could demonstrate he would comply with the team’s rules and pose no threat.
“Cloud said we’re asking for protection, and that’s what protection looks like from a man,” Cloud told reporters on Saturday. She added that the Sky’s staff—owner Alter, general manager Jeff Pagliocca and coach Tyler Marsh—had handled the situation well and called on the WNBA to follow their example.
The incident follows a week‑long dispute that also drew attention to Freedom’s public protest against the WNBA’s eligibility rules. He has announced plans to seek eligibility for the 2027 WNBA Draft as part of that protest and has been outspoken on issues surrounding trans rights. Cloud, who scored 14 points in the Sky’s 85‑66 loss to the Liberty on Saturday, said she would focus on “real issues that face women and children” rather than “our trans human beings,” “drag queens,” or the “gay community.”
When asked why controversies in the league continue, Cloud answered, “Men.” She added that men “have been the ones saying we shouldn’t be paid,” “we shouldn’t have been invested in,” or that women were “a joke,” and that protecting women must also mean protecting all women, including Black women and trans women.
The WNBA’s Fan Code of Conduct permits teams to eject spectators, revoke tickets, and prevent future attendance. It also states that a guest who attempts to enter the court can be immediately removed, a provision that was invoked in this case.
Whether Freedom will be allowed back into a Sky game remains unclear. Alter said Freedom must prove his conduct was unacceptable and that he will not repeat it, but no formal reinstatement process has been announced. The incident has added to the league’s growing list of cultural and political controversies, with both sides of the debate citing the protection of players and fans as a priority.