Former NBA big man Enes Kanter Freedom has sent a letter to WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert demanding clarification for his ejection from Sunday’s game and subsequent ban from the arena.
Freedom attended Sunday’s game between the Indiana Fever and the Chicago Sky at Wintrust Arena. In the third quarter, he had a verbal altercation with Sky guard Natasha Cloud near his baseline courtside seat. This led to arena security intervening and escorting the former NBA center out of the arena.
Sky majority owner Michael Alter told reporters Tuesday that Freedom is banned from Wintrust Arena “unless sometime in the future, he’s able to prove to us that he’s able to abide by our rules without being a potential threat.”
On Wednesday, Fox News’ Jackson Thompson reported that Freedom is demanding an explanation from Engelbert about his removal. He described the incident as:
“Selective enforcement of league and arena policies that raises serious concerns of viewpoint discrimination.”
Freedom also asked the league to specify the rule he allegedly violated and identify who ordered his ejection. He also wants to know whether the league will assess Cloud’s conduct toward fans and demands a full refund for his ticket.
Here are Freedom’s five questions to the WNBA:
- “Identify the policy, rule, directive, or instruction relied upon in treating certain spectators, including me, differently when we express a viewpoint that appears unpopular with the WNBA;
- Identify whether the decision to eject me was made or requested by WNBA personnel, Chicago Sky personnel, Wintrust Arena personnel, security personnel, or another individual or entity;
- Confirm whether Ms. Cloud’s conduct has been or will be reviewed under any League policy governing player interactions with fans, including rules governing altercations that require player suspension, and state what accountability, if any, she, her team, and management will face;
- Provide a full refund of the cost of my courtside tickets; and
- Preserve all materials relating to this incident, including relevant video footage, incident or security reports, communications concerning my attendance or removal, communications referring to my WNBA Draft announcement or public advocacy for women’s sports, and any applicable policies or event-day directives.”
Freedom requested that the league issue “a written response within five business days” addressing the five questions he raised.
According to Thompson, the WNBA and Engelbert have yet to respond to requests for comments.
Enes Kanter Freedom argues Natasha Cloud should also be reprimanded
In the same letter to WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert on Wednesday, Enes Kanter Freedom argued that the league seemed to apply its rules “unfairly.” He noted that Natasha Cloud has not been reprimanded for her actions against him.
“According to the WNBA, any physical or verbal altercation with a fan is treated as conduct detrimental to the game,” Freedom wrote. “The WNBA Office holds the authority to issue heavy fines or multi-game suspensions for players who cross the line into berating or cursing at spectators.
“Yet Ms. Cloud’s conduct of yelling, swearing, and pointing at a spectator (me) appears to have escaped any accountability and was, in fact, defended by her coach.”
Enes Kanter Freedom further argued that his removal from the arena did not comply with the WNBA Fan Code of Conduct, which he claims requires a warning before ejection.
Freedom has been at the center of the WNBA eligibility debate after he announced his intention to enter next year’s draft. He said that he is eligible after claiming to identify as a woman.
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Edited by Kim Daniel Rubinos