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Enes Kanter Freedom banned from Chicago Sky home games after WNBA ejection

From CBS News · () English

Translated from English, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Context piece
  • Enes Kanter Freedom was banned from Chicago Sky home games after being ejected from a WNBA match.
  • Owner Michael Alter stated Freedom's presence was disruptive and he must prove he can abide by rules.
  • Freedom claimed he was kicked out for supporting women, while also having declared for the WNBA draft identifying as a woman.

The Chicago Sky has banned former NBA center Enes Kanter Freedom from attending their home games at Wintrust Arena. The decision follows his ejection from a recent game against the Indiana Fever. Sky owner Michael Alter announced the ban, stating that Freedom is not welcome unless he can demonstrate an ability to adhere to the team's rules without posing a potential threat.

Freedom, wearing a shirt that read "WOMAN noun. adult human female," was involved in a confrontation with Sky guard Natasha Cloud late in the third quarter of Sunday's game. Cloud began yelling and pointing at Freedom as she approached him. Video footage showed Freedom holding his arms out and taking a step onto the court as security intervened. Alter suggested Freedom's intention was to provoke attention and cause disruption.

It was pretty clear to us that his purpose of coming here was trying to be provocative and just see how much attention he could get and stir up and create

โ€” Michael AlterChicago Sky owner explaining the decision to ban Enes Kanter Freedom from home games.

Following his removal from the game, Freedom posted on social media, "I just got kicked out of a WNBA game for supporting WOMEN!" He and another former NBA player, Royce White, have reportedly declared for the WNBA draft, identifying as women. However, a person familiar with the situation told the Associated Press that they are not eligible for the draft.

The incident occurs amidst ongoing debates about the eligibility of transgender women to play in the WNBA. While the league's collective bargaining agreement addresses gender identity, there has never been a transgender player in the WNBA. Freedom's actions and subsequent ban have brought renewed attention to these discussions.

I just got kicked out of a WNBA game for supporting WOMEN! Let that sink in, AMERICA!

โ€” Enes Kanter FreedomFreedom's social media post after being ejected from the game.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by CBS News in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.