Enes Kanter Freedom, a former basketball player and human rights activist, is taking legal action against the Chicago Sky following an ejection from Wintrust Arena during a game against the Indiana Fever. The altercation involved Sky guard Natasha Cloud.
Freedom filed a federal complaint in U.S. District Court, asserting he was “peacefully exercising my First Amendment rights” while sitting near the baseline. He wore a T-shirt stating, “WOMAN noun, adult human female.” As a result, the Sky banned him indefinitely from Wintrust Arena. Freedom is considering further legal action against this ban.
The lawsuit names Chicago Women’s Basketball Operations, LLC (operators of the Sky), the Metropolitan Pier and Exposition Authority (MPEA) (builder of Wintrust Arena), and the City of Chicago as defendants. Freedom claims they conspired to discriminate against him based on his expression of viewpoint and gender identity, ultimately leading to his wrongful ejection.
The complaint details his belief in protecting the integrity of women-only sports, a point he has made publicly on several occasions. He identifies as eligible to participate in the WNBA due to league rules regarding such declarations, drawing backlash which is noted in the lawsuit.
The lawsuit details unwanted attention and harassment Freedom faced at the arena, including racial slurs and profanity from fans, which violated WNBA Fan Code of Conduct yet went unnoticed. During the third quarter, tensions escalated when Cloud verbally confronted Freedom, allegedly triggered by the message on Freedom’s shirt and his viewpoint on women’s sports.
Freedom argues that despite raising his arms “in confusion and disbelief,” Cloud continued to shout profanities, violating WNBA rules. No disciplinary action was taken against Cloud, and the Sky confirmed they would not take action. The Sky’s owner, Michael Alter, reportedly mischaracterized the interaction, comparing Freedom’s actions to shooting a gun.
Freedom demands court recognition of his First Amendment rights violation and compensation for losses incurred due to his unconstitutional ban. He has vowed not to be silenced and continues to advocate for women’s sports and free speech.
The Sky, MPEA, and City of Chicago have not commented on the pending litigation.