Former NBA player Enes Kanter Freedom appeared on Laura Ingraham’s show, “The Ingraham Angle,” to explain his removal from a recent WNBA game. This incident occurred during a match between the Indiana Fever and Chicago Sky at Wintrust Arena. Kanter Freedom was ejected late in the third quarter after a direct confrontation with Chicago Sky guard Natasha Cloud.
Enes Kanter Freedom attended the game to support basketball and athlete Sophie Cunningham. Kanter, known for his outspokenness on social issues, wore a shirt with a definition of ‘woman’ as “an adult human female.” This gesture was to support the rights of women in sports, as Cunningham had faced criticism for defending female athletes.
Following a successful three-point shot by Cunningham, Kanter Freedom raised his hands in celebration. This prompted Cloud to aggressively confront him with personal insults, loudly mocking him in front of spectators.
Kanter told Ingraham that he was surprised by Cloud’s reaction, stating, “I actually loved the game and enjoyed the game.” He recounted watching the game with enthusiasm until Cloud’s outburst took him by surprise.
The altercation escalated as Cloud used offensive language near children in the audience. Kanter was criticized for the situation, although he believed the offensive actions came from Cloud. Despite this, arena staff decided to escort him out, rather than Cloud.
Kanter expressed shock that questioning what defines a woman remains controversial. He highlighted that the WNBA informed media outlets that he wouldn’t be eligible for their draft, citing league policies.
Discussing gender policies, Kanter remarked, “I am a woman. I should be allowed to play.” He referred to the league’s rules stating that anyone identifying as a woman can participate.
Following his media appearance, former NBA player Royce White suggested that the WNBA might attempt to ban Kanter Freedom from future games to avoid public relations issues. In response, Fever head coach Stephanie White downplayed the situation as a ‘social media thing,’ despite the larger implications discussed in Kanter’s interview.