Former NBA center Enes Kanter Freedom was kicked out of the Indiana-Chicago WNBA game on Sunday night following a confrontation with Sky guard Natasha Cloud during the third quarter. Kanter, seated near the baseline, wore a black shirt displaying the message “WOMAN noun. adult human female.”

Natasha Cloud, after scoring a basket in the third quarter, engaged in an altercation with Kanter. The incident prompted a timeout by the Fever as Cloud approached Kanter, yelling and pointing at him. Security and some Sky players intervened as the situation escalated.

Chicago’s Tyler Marsh reassured Cloud that she was not a distraction to the team, emphasizing her role in protecting and supporting the team and individuals. Kanter, while being escorted out, appealed to security and the crowd before leaving the court area.

After the game, Cloud met with team and league security but did not engage with the media. However, she shared a supportive message on Threads aimed at transgender individuals, affirming their place in her community and their value.

The WNBA has been the center of discussions regarding the inclusion of transgender women who transitioned from male to female in the league. Layshia Clarendon, the first openly transgender and non-binary player in the WNBA, retired in 2024. Despite the league’s guidelines restricting participation to women, there is no specific language addressing gender identity or birth sex.

Debates intensified when former NBA players like Enes Kanter and Royce White mockingly declared their eligibility for the WNBA draft, claiming a change in gender identity. The controversy has sparked mixed reactions within the basketball community, with some supporting inclusion and others opposing it.

The incident involving Kanter and Cloud underscores the ongoing discussions surrounding transgender inclusion in sports and the complexities it brings to the WNBA.