WNBA reportedly won’t ban Enes Kanter Freedom after courtside confrontation with Natasha Cloud

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - AUGUST 23: Former basketball player Enes Kanter Freedom and Natasha Cloud #9 of the Chicago Sky yell at one another during the second half between the Chicago Sky and the Indiana Fever at Wintrust Arena on August 23, 2026 in Chicago, Illinois. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)

The former NBA player was escorted from Wintrust Arena following a confrontation with the Chicago Sky guard.

The WNBA reportedly does not plan to ban former NBA player Enes Kanter Freedom from attending future games after his courtside confrontation with Chicago Sky guard Natasha Cloud. Enes Kanter Freedom was escorted from Wintrust Arena after the Sunday confrontation, which came amid the league’s broader transgender eligibility debate.

Sources with direct knowledge told TMZ that league officials want to move on from the controversy and do not believe a ban is warranted. The sources said Freedom did not enter the court and that his conduct did not rise to the level that would justify barring him from future games.

Freedom, 34, had been sitting courtside during the Sky’s game against the Indiana Fever while wearing a shirt that read, “WOMAN noun adult human female.” The exchange escalated late in the third quarter after Cloud approached his seat. TMZ reported that Cloud had to be held back by teammates before Freedom was escorted from the arena.

Natasha Cloud scores, exchanges words with Enes Kanter, and he’s escorted from the game 👀pic.twitter.com/sHbIRLlrae

— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) August 24, 2026

The WNBA has not publicly announced disciplinary action against Freedom.

The confrontation came after Freedom and former NBA player Royce White said they identify as women and declared themselves eligible for the 2027 WNBA Draft. Reuters reported Monday that both are ineligible for the draft. The WNBA does not currently have a specific, publicly available policy governing transgender participation and has said it is discussing the issue with stakeholders.

On Tuesday, Freedom offered his own account of what sparked the argument. He told Fox News that Cloud made a sexual remark involving Fever guard Sophie Cunningham after he celebrated Cunningham entering the game. Freedom said Cloud then cursed at him and argued that she, rather than he, should have been removed.

Cloud has not publicly confirmed Freedom’s account. TMZ said it contacted her for comment and had not received a response. Cloud separately posted support for transgender people after the game, writing that members of the trans community would “always be protected by me.”

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