Chicago Sky guard Natasha Cloud posted a message expressing support for the transgender community on Sunday evening. This statement came after a notable interaction with former NBA player Enes Kanter Freedom during the Sky’s game against the Indiana Fever.
Incident at Wintrust Arena
During the third quarter of the game at Wintrust Arena, Cloud scored a basket, prompting the Fever to call a timeout. She then directed intense emotion toward Freedom, who was seated near the basketball court. Freedom subsequently rose and moved toward Cloud, necessitating intervention from Sky players and arena security to separate the two.
The exact nature of the verbal exchange between Cloud and Freedom was not immediately clear. Following the incident, Freedom was escorted out of the arena and did not return for the remainder of the game.
Cloud's Public Stand
Cloud did not participate in the Sky's postgame media availability. Instead, she shared a message on Threads, reaffirming her solidarity with the transgender community.
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.
This message was widely interpreted as a response to Freedom, who has publicly declared his intention to join the WNBA and has been vocal about his opinions on transgender athletes participating in women's and girls' sports.
Enes Kanter Freedom's Views and Presence
Freedom attended the WNBA game after previously stating his desire to compete in the league. Upon his arrival at the arena earlier on Sunday, he reportedly faced vocal criticism from a group of WNBA fans.
During the game, Freedom was observed wearing a T-shirt that displayed a definition of a woman, which stated:
Woman – adult human female.
Following his removal from the arena, Freedom posted several messages on social media.
On X, he wrote:
I just got kicked out of a @WNBA game for supporting WOMEN! Let that sink in, AMERICA!
In a separate post, he added:
It’s always women hating on other women.