Chicago Sky owner Michael Alter announced Tuesday that former NBA center Enes Kanter Freedom has been banned from the team's home games at Wintrust Arena. The decision follows Freedom's removal from a Sunday game against the Indiana Fever after a confrontation with Sky guard Natasha Cloud. Alter stated that the ban would remain in place unless Freedom can demonstrate he can follow arena rules and not pose what Alter described as a "potential threat."
The confrontation occurred during the third quarter of Sunday’s game while Freedom was seated along the baseline wearing a shirt that defined a woman as an "adult human female." Video footage showed Cloud yelling and pointing at Freedom, who then stood and stepped toward the court as security and other players intervened. Freedom was escorted from the arena by security and spoke with police officers before his departure. Following the incident, Freedom stated on social media that he was removed for "supporting women."
The ban comes amid a broader discussion regarding gender eligibility in the WNBA. Freedom and another former NBA player, Royce White, have both declared for the WNBA draft, stating they identify as women. However, a source familiar with the matter told the Associated Press on Monday that both individuals are ineligible. The WNBA collective bargaining agreement restricts participation to women but does not include specific language regarding sex assigned at birth or gender identity.
The scale of the situation involves the 12-team WNBA league and its policies regarding player eligibility and fan conduct. While the exact financial impact on Freedom or the Sky is not reported, the incident highlights the enforcement of arena conduct policies for high-profile attendees. A person familiar with the league's operations indicated that Freedom and Royce White are not eligible for the draft, a decision that maintains the league's current composition. Fans attending Wintrust Arena may notice increased security presence or stricter enforcement of behavioral standards following this event and a separate Friday incident where objects were thrown onto the court.
The knock-on effects could influence how the WNBA and other professional sports leagues define eligibility in future collective bargaining agreements. The current agreement's lack of specific language regarding gender identity creates a precedent for how individual teams and the league office manage disputes over identity and participation. What happens next depends on whether Freedom attempts to challenge the ban or the draft eligibility ruling. The Sky organization is also continuing to investigate the Friday incident involving spectators throwing objects, as they seek the identities of those involved to potentially issue further bans.