Enes Kanter Freedom claimed Natasha Cloud confronted him after he celebrated a Sophie Cunningham three-pointer and allegedly told him, "She's not gonna sleep with you," before security removed him from the arena for reasons he says remain unclear.
Credit Getty Images via AFP - Scanpix
Enes Kanter Freedom has provided his full account of the confrontation with Chicago Sky guard Natasha Cloud that resulted in the former NBA center being removed from Sunday's WNBA game against the Indiana Fever.
Speaking to Jack Thompson of FOX News, Freedom claimed the incident began after he celebrated a three-pointer by Fever guard Sophie Cunningham late in the third quarter.
According to Freedom, Cloud approached him several possessions later and told him: "She's not gonna sleep with you."
Freedom said he responded that he was not interested in Cunningham romantically and was simply at the game to support her and what he described as protecting women.
Freedom gives his side of Cloud confrontation
Freedom said he attended the game as a basketball fan and supporter of the Fever and initially had no issues inside Wintrust Arena.
"Well, happened to my good question. So I was literally out there. I mean, obviously, I'm a huge fan of basketball, huge fan of women's basketball. And I was there to watch the game, and I was really excited because I'm a huge fan of the Fever. And so I was just literally just there to just watch the game.
"And then the first half went amazing. I was having so much fun with my friends and stuff. And then it was towards the end of the third quarter, Sophie Cunningham shot a three, and I put my hands up to celebrate, right?
"Literally a couple possessions later, Natasha came back and started screaming and yelling and said, 'She's not gonna sleep with you.' And I was like, 'I am not trying to sleep with her. I'm just here to protect women and support her.'
"And then obviously after that, she started yapping, and she started to walk towards me, and literally I just got up, and then I was like, 'I'm just here to protect women, and that's all.' And then she started to yell; she started to use some very heavy language, she started to actually cuss.
"I was very shocked that there were a lot of kids and there were a lot of teenagers at that game. And I just cannot believe that she was just cussing and using those F-bombs in front of all these kids. I mean, I'm sure she is loved in Chicago, and many kids idolize her and stuff, but that's not a WNBA athlete reaction, you know?
"After that, the security guard came and was like, 'Listen, you need to leave.' I was like, 'Can you please tell me why I need to leave?' They said, 'Well, you just need to leave.' And then they literally - I don't want to say they dragged me, but like, they pretty much like pushed me to leave the gym.
"Then after that, I had a conversation with the police officers, which I respect a lot. I was like, 'Listen, I was just there to protect women.'"
Video from the incident showed Freedom getting to his feet and stepping over the baseline as Cloud approached him, before security personnel and Sky players moved between the two.
Cloud did not speak to the media after the game but met with team and league security.
Credit Getty Images via AFP - Scanpix
Freedom argued with security after removal
Freedom continued questioning his removal after being escorted away from the court and into the landing area of Wintrust Arena.
"I'm supporting women, and that is the reason they are kicking me out. This is unacceptable," Freedom told security.
He was eventually escorted out of the arena after also speaking with police officers.
Freedom later addressed the incident again on X.
"I just got kicked out of a WNBA game for supporting WOMEN! Let that sink in, AMERICA!" he wrote.
Sky head coach Tyler Marsh, meanwhile, publicly backed Cloud following the confrontation and praised her willingness to stand up for the team.
"I told her that we all embrace her as someone who protects our team and protects people who need to be protected. Tash is always going to stand on that, and we stand for Tash."
Freedom confronted by fans before game
The tension surrounding Freedom's appearance had begun before he even entered the arena.
Freedom posted footage of himself, accompanied by security, receiving mixed reactions from people outside Wintrust Arena. One person could be seen making an obscene gesture toward him, while others shouted comments in his direction.
"We are getting attacked before the WNBA game in Chicago," Freedom wrote alongside the video.
Once inside, Freedom also criticized the teams over their handling of the pregame national anthem.
He attended the game wearing a black shirt that read: "WOMAN noun. adult human female."
Freedom again displayed the message on his shirt while being escorted away following the confrontation.
Freedom recently declared for WNBA Draft
The appearance came after Freedom and fellow former NBA player Royce White announced that they were declaring themselves eligible for the WNBA Draft, saying they identify as women.
Freedom's declaration attracted significant attention, although the WNBA has not confirmed that he is eligible to enter its draft.
Merely submitting or publicly announcing a declaration does not establish eligibility under league rules.
Freedom spent more than a decade in the NBA before his playing career ended, representing the Utah Jazz, Oklahoma City Thunder, New York Knicks, Portland Trail Blazers and Boston Celtics, among others.
Sunday's game was his first WNBA appearance as a spectator since making his draft declaration.