{
  "id": 3003445,
  "title": "Ex-NBA center ejected from WNBA game after being confronted by player",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/24/ex-nba-center-ejected-from-wnba-game-after-being-confronted-by-player",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-08-24T11:01:15.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "CBS News",
    "slug": "cbs-news",
    "url": "https://www.cbsnews.com/news/enes-kanter-freedom-ejected-wnba-game-confronted-natasha-cloud/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Former NBA center Enes Kanter Freedom was removed from Sunday night's Indiana-Chicago WNBA game after a confrontation with Sky guard Natasha Cloud in the third quarter. Freedom was seated along the baseline wearing a black shirt that read \"WOMAN noun. adult human female.\" The Fever called for a timeout following Cloud's scoring inside with 1:22 left in the third quarter. Cloud then performed a chest bump with teammate Aicha Coulibaly before approaching Freedom, who stood up and held his arms out, taking one step on the court as security and Sky players moved between them. Video footage showed Cloud yelling and pointing at Freedom as he was escorted from the court area. Chicago coach Tyler Marsh stated that Cloud was concerned about being a distraction for the team and that she would always support her. Freedom pleaded his case to security while being escorted out of the arena and had a conversation with police officers before departing Wintrust Arena. Indiana star Caitlin Clark, who was unaware of the incident, suggested that the matter should be addressed by the Chicago team. The WNBA has been the subject of recent debates on the inclusion of transgender women who identify as women in the league, with no such player having participated thus far. Freedom and Royce White, another former NBA player, have declared themselves eligible for the WNBA draft, identifying as women. Freedom, a native of Turkey who became a U.S. citizen in 2021, supported Cunningham's perspective on girls and women sports during a rally outside the arena before the game. Chicago coach Marsh praised the league and its players, emphasizing that fans should come to enjoy the basketball game. Cloud did not speak with the media after the game but later posted a statement on social media, expressing her support for trans kids and individuals, emphasizing that they belong, are loved, seen, and perfect as they are. This is not the first time Cloud and Freedom have crossed paths, with a previous social media exchange occurring in 2023 after Cloud criticized the U.S. government.",
  "summary": "The WNBA has been the subject of recent debates on whether transgender women should be allowed to participate in the league.",
  "key_points": [
    "Enes Kanter Freedom ejected from Indiana-Chicago WNBA game",
    "Confrontation with Natasha Cloud in third quarter",
    "Chicago coach supports Cloud's concern about distraction"
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}