Enes Kanter Freedom, a former NBA player who has declared himself eligible for the 2027 WNBA Draft amid the transgender athlete debate surrounding the league, was ejected from the Chicago Sky vs. Indiana Fever game on Sunday, Aug. 23, after getting into a shouting match with Sky guard Natasha Cloud at Wintrust Arena in Chicago.
After scoring a basket with 1:22 remaining in the third quarter, Cloud approached Kanter Freedom during a timeout.
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He approached the court and security quickly surrounded him while teammates held Cloud back.
Kanter Freedom was then removed from the game.
He had been wearing a shirt that said: “WOMAN noun. adult human female.”
Related: Outside a sold-out WNBA game, dueling protests mirror America’s transgender-athlete debate
How Enes Kanter responded on social media to Natasha Cloud incident
After the game, Kanter Freedom posted on X: I just got kicked out of a @WNBA game for supporting WOMEN! Let that sink in America!”
How Natasha Cloud responded on social media to Enes Kanter Freedom incident
Cloud posted on Threads after the game: “To every trans kid/person, You are apart of MY community & tribe. You belong. You’re loved. You’re seen. You’re perfect as you are. & you will always be protected by me.”
Enes Kanter Freedom and Natasha Cloud of the Chicago Sky yell at one another during the second half between the Chicago Sky and the Indiana Fever at Wintrust Arena on Aug. 23, 2026 in Chicago.
Transgender athletes in sports debate surrounds WNBA
The Cloud vs Kanter Freedom spat has added fuel to the fire of both sides in a national transgender debate that has taken over the WNBA.
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Pablo Torre and Clay Travis, two prominent sports media members, showcased the divide in an interaction on X after the Cloud vs Kanter Freedom incident.
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Read more: WNBA continues to face scrutiny over transgender athlete debate
Reach Jeremy Cluff at jeremy.cluff@arizonarepublic.com. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter @Jeremy_Cluff.
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This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Enes Kanter Freedom ejected after WNBA altercation with Natasha Cloud
