Former NBA player ejected from arena at WNBA game

Former NBA player Enes Kanter Freedom was ejected Sunday from the WNBA’s Indiana Fever–Chicago Sky game after a verbal altercation with Sky guard Natasha Cloud. In a video of the incident, which occurred near the end of the third quarter, Cloud could be seen pointing and yelling at Freedom, who sat at the baseline of Wintrust Arena in Chicago. Freedom then stood up and walked toward the court before officials and security members jumped in and escorted him out.

During the incident, Freedom was wearing a shirt that read “WOMAN—noun. Adult human female.” In a social media post afterward, he said he was ejected from the WNBA game for supporting women. Freedom has repeatedly urged the WNBA to allow only women to participate in women’s sports. As part of his stance, he declared himself eligible for the WNBA draft earlier this month, arguing that under its current rules he can join the league.

What else has Freedom said about Sunday’s incident? In an interview with OutKick on Fox News, Freedom alleged that Cloud directed profanities about him and made vulgar remarks about him and Fever guard Sophie Cunningham. Cunningham has made headlines in the past month after she defended her stance on protecting women in women’s sports.

What has Cloud said since the incident? She said that she supported transgender individuals in a social media post late Sunday, calling them part of her community and tribe. In his postgame press conference, Sky coach Tyler Marsh said Cloud was passionate and the team stood for her. The coach added that he didn’t feel like Cloud’s actions were a distraction during the game, which the Sky lost to the Fever 113-90.

Dig deeper: Read my report on the WNBA’s response after two fans were kicked out of a game for wearing shirts that touted messages about protecting women in women’s sports.