Former NBA player Enes Kanter Freedom was asked to leave the WNBA game between Indiana and Chicago after a confrontation with Sky guard Natasha Cloud during the third quarter. Kanter, sitting courtside, wore a black shirt with the message “WOMAN noun. adult human female.”
Cloud’s actions towards Kanter led to a heated exchange, with Cloud yelling and pointing at him before security and players intervened. Chicago forward Azura Stevens downplayed the incident, focusing on the game outcome.
Cloud, concerned about causing a distraction, met with team officials after the game. She later shared a message on social media expressing support for transgender individuals.
The incident has sparked debates about transgender women participating in the WNBA. While the league’s rules specify it is for women, there is no explicit mention of gender identity. Former NBA players, including Kanter, have humorously declared their eligibility for the WNBA draft as a form of protest.
Further discussions and actions surrounding transgender inclusion in women’s sports continue to unfold within the WNBA community.