Natasha Cloud, a player for the Chicago Sky, declined to engage in discussion about Enes Kanter Freedom during a media availability session on Saturday, characterizing him as unimportant to her focus. Instead, Cloud directed attention toward issues she identified as most pressing for women, including domestic violence, sexual assault, and food insecurity.
The exchange followed a physical confrontation that occurred at a Sky home game the previous Sunday against the Indiana Fever. Freedom, a former NBA player, was seated along the baseline wearing a shirt with a statement related to gender. After Cloud scored, she approached Freedom while he stood and stepped toward the court, prompting intervention from security and teammates.
Following the incident, Sky owner Michael Alter announced a ban prohibiting Freedom from attending future home games. Cloud publicly supported this decision, calling it a demonstration of player protection. The WNBA has faced questions regarding eligibility rules, as Freedom and another former NBA player, Royce White, have declared for the draft while stating they identify as women. A person with knowledge of the matter indicated they are ineligible, citing current league restrictions, though the collective bargaining agreement lacks specific language regarding gender identity or sex assigned at birth.
Cloud emphasized that the league operates according to principle and humanitarian values, expressing reluctance to repeatedly serve as a spokesperson on contentious matters. She referenced a conversation with a transgender fan to underscore her motivations. Cloud also noted the strong viewership the WNBA has been generating, with the game against Indiana drawing 3.3 million viewers, described as the highest since the league’s inaugural season in 1997.
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