Former NBA player Enes Kanter Freedom wore a shirt featuring the biological definition of a woman (“adult human female”) courtside during the Indiana Fever vs Chicago Sky WNBA game on Sunday night.
The bold stunt got Kanter kicked out of the Wintrust Arena after he engaged in a heated argument with Sky guard Natasha Cloud.
According to Indy Star, “Cloud started yelling at Kanter Freedom, who was sitting on the baseline, and Cloud needed to be held back by teammate DiJonai Carrington and Fever security.”
The report added: “Kanter Freedom was then escorted off the baseline to loud boos from the crowd, talked briefly with security behind the basket, then slowly walked off the court while puffing out the “Woman” T-shirt.”
Enes Kanter Freedom Kicked Out
Kanter’s stunt comes after he declared for the WNBA Draft by identifying as a woman, amid the ongoing debate over transgender athletes’ participation in the league. Shortly after Kanter, another former NBA player, Royce White, declared for the 2027 Draft.
Kanter and White may not be alone in their invasion of the WNBA. Recently, Kanter revealed via a video that he had convinced another eight biological males, including two former NBA players, to identify as women and declare for the WNBA Draft.
“They have all said that if the @WNBA doesn’t change the rules, they’re ready to join the movement and are considering coming out as women and putting their names in the 2027 #WNBA Draft,” Freedom wrote on X.
“Hear me out; The @NBA G- League pays players $45,000 a year, while the #WNBA top players earn $1.4 Million. Those “men” could earn an extra $1,355,000 a year by just identifying as women.
“Rules are rules.”
The former Oklahoma City Thunder big man initially supported Fever star Sophie Cunningham’s strict stance against transgender participation in women’s sports. Subsequently, Cunningham was widely vilified by her peers and fans, with several rallies springing up across WNBA arenas in the country. To that end, she was heavily booed by Chicago fans on Sunday night every time she touched the basketball.
WNBA to Address Controversy
While the WNBA’s CBA requires players to be women, it does not define gender identity or sex assigned at birth. Kanter and White evidently took advantage of this gray area by declaring themselves as women to meet eligibility requirements.
Amid the confusion, WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert recently formed a task force of team presidents and front-office executives to address the issue of transgender athlete participation in the league.
“We recognize that this is a complex and nuanced topic, and we will continue to have important conversations with all of you and the Players Association in the weeks and months ahead,” Engelbert wrote in a memo.
“We also plan to convene additional discussions and offer listening sessions for any team leaders who would like to participate. Your perspectives and feedback are invaluable, and I appreciate those who have already reached out to share their thoughts.”
‘Woman’ Enes Kanter Ejected From Sky-Fever Game [Viral Video]