Enes Kanter Freedom, a former NBA player, has written to WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert seeking clarification regarding his ejection from a recent game and a subsequent ban from the arena.
Freedom was present at the game between the Indiana Fever and the Chicago Sky at Wintrust Arena on Sunday. During the third quarter, he engaged in a verbal confrontation with Sky guard Natasha Cloud while seated courtside. This incident prompted security to intervene, resulting in Freedom being escorted out.
Michael Alter, the majority owner of the Sky, informed reporters on Tuesday that Freedom is prohibited from entering Wintrust Arena unless he can demonstrate that he can adhere to their rules without posing a potential threat.
On Wednesday, Jackson Thompson of Fox News reported that Freedom is seeking an explanation from Engelbert concerning his removal. He suggested that the incident involved:
“Selective enforcement of league and arena policies that raises serious concerns of viewpoint discrimination.”
In his letter, Freedom requested the league specify the rule he allegedly violated and identify who ordered his ejection. Additionally, he inquired if Cloud’s behavior towards fans would be evaluated and demanded a full refund for his ticket.
Freedom posed five questions to the WNBA:
- Identify the policy, rule, directive, or instruction used to treat certain spectators, including me, differently when expressing a viewpoint perceived as unpopular with the WNBA;
- Determine whether the decision to eject me was made or requested by WNBA personnel, Chicago Sky personnel, Wintrust Arena personnel, security personnel, or another individual or entity;
- Confirm if Ms. Cloud’s behavior has been or will be reviewed under any league policy governing player interactions with fans, including rules that require player suspension, and specify any accountability for her, her team, and management;
- Provide a full refund for the cost of my courtside tickets; and
- Preserve all materials related to this incident, including video footage, incident or security reports, communications about my attendance or removal, communications about my WNBA Draft announcement or advocacy for women’s sports, and any relevant policies or event-day directives.
Freedom requested that the league provide a written response within five business days addressing his questions.
According to Thompson, the WNBA and Engelbert have not yet responded to requests for comments.
Enes Kanter Freedom argues Natasha Cloud should also be reprimanded
In the same letter to WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert on Wednesday, Enes Kanter Freedom argued that the league seemed to apply its rules “unfairly.” He noted that Natasha Cloud has not faced repercussions for her actions against him.
“According to the WNBA, any physical or verbal altercation with a fan is treated as conduct detrimental to the game,” Freedom wrote. “The WNBA Office holds the authority to issue heavy fines or multi-game suspensions for players who cross the line into berating or cursing at spectators.”
“Yet Ms. Cloud’s conduct of yelling, swearing, and pointing at a spectator (me) appears to have escaped any accountability and was, in fact, defended by her coach.”
Enes Kanter Freedom further argued that his removal from the arena did not comply with the WNBA Fan Code of Conduct, which he claims requires a warning before ejection.
Freedom has been at the center of the WNBA eligibility debate after he announced his intention to enter next year’s draft. He said that he is eligible after claiming to identify as a woman.
Read more:
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Edited by Kim Daniel Rubinos
