Chicago Sky ban former NBA player Enes Kanter Freedom from arena following on-court altercation with Natasha Cloud

In recent weeks, Kanter Freedom has been vocal about joining the league following Indiana Fever player Sophie Cunningham’s comments on transgender athletes and a conservative outcry regarding trans athletes in sports.

Following a viral altercation with WNBA star Natasha Cloud on Sunday, the Chicago Sky opted to ban former NBA star Enes Kanter Freedom from Wintrust Arena.

The Sky’s majority owner, Michael Alter, told The Athletic on Tuesday that Kanter Freedom would be banned from attending Sky games after his second-half behavior during the Sky’s game versus the Indiana Fever.

One of the Fever players, Sophie Cunningham, recently spoke out against transgender athletes in women’s sports, prompting the league, which has already been railed against by conservative pundits and others, to address how they feel the league and other players have treated Fever star Caitlin Clark.

Kanter Freedom wore a T-shirt with “WOMAN noun. adult human female,” screenprinted on the front to Sunday’s contest and was seated under one of the baskets when, during a third quarter timeout, he was engaged in a heated back-and-forth with Cloud, who has vocalized her support of LGBTQ+ rights on social media and has been outspoken about various topics for years. The animosity between the two had been brewing all game as Kanter Freedom “chirped” and “engaged” Cloud to provoke a reaction, according to Alter.

“[Kanter Freedom] has demonstrated to us unequivocally that he has the potential to be a threat,” Alter told reporters on Tuesday. “That he is not able to control himself to the extent where we can be comfortable that he may [not] step towards the court again and towards the players.

“So that is the basis for which we will not permit him into the building until such time as he can prove otherwise.”

However, Alter informed The Athletic that Kanter Freedom’s ban was not a lifetime one.

“As far as a lifetime ban, if someday he’s able to demonstrate he’s capable of being at a game and conducting himself in compliance with our rules and not be a threat to people, might we reconsider?” Alter said. “I suppose it’s possible.”

TheGrio previously reported on Tuesday that the WNBA has yet to consider whether to ban Kanter Freedom from all WNBA contests due to his actions on Sunday. He appeared on Fox News and explained that Chicago Sky general manager Jeff Pagliocca texted him and his representative to “just enjoy the game” on Sunday. Pagliocca and Kanter Freedom previously had a working relationship when the GM was a trainer, but had not spoken in more than three to four years.

Alter said the team was not aware Kanter Freedom would be attending the game until three and a half hours before tip-off. Reading the text exchange between Kanter Freedom’s representative and Pagliocca, Alter revealed that the GM responded, “appreciate the text” after Kanter Freedom’s rep texted him, “Jeff, this is Hank (this is Enes’ manager). I’ve got a new number. You’ve always been fair to me so I figured you deserved a heads up in advance. Enes and I will be at the Sky game tonight. Hope you are well.”

Alter denied that Pagliocca, or any member of the Sky staff, insinuated that they were happy to have him in attendance.

“A lot of information is out there — a lot of it coming from Kanter Freedom — about what’s occurred,” Alter said. “Most of it is either outright lies or misleading information.”

Kanter Freedom, who spent 11 years in the NBA, has, along with former NBA player and two-time Minnesota Senate candidate Royce White, skirted WNBA bylines in their CBA by declaring they were women and entering the WNBA draft. League sources have stated that the W has denied both men entry into the draft, and Alter considered Kanter Freedom a “bad-faith actor,” while emphasizing the need for a safe environment for fans attending Sky games.