CHICAGO — Enes Kanter Freedom filed a lawsuit against the Chicago Sky, the City of Chicago, and the Metropolitan Pier and Exposition Authority. The complaint alleges the defendants violated his First Amendment rights by ejecting him from a WNBA game for wearing a shirt that read "WOMAN, noun. adult human female." The lawsuit was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois Eastern Division.

The legal action seeks unspecified damages and a permanent injunction directing the defendants to lift the prohibition on his attendance at Wintrust Arena. The incident occurred during the Chicago Sky's game against the Indiana Fever on Aug. 23. Kanter Freedom sat courtside wearing the shirt when he entered into a verbal exchange with Chicago Sky guard Natasha Cloud with 1:22 remaining in the third quarter.

Kanter Freedom alleged in his lawsuit that Cloud initiated a profanity-laced verbal tirade without provocation. He claimed she charged nearly half the length of the court toward where he was sitting and yelled that Sophie Cunningham was not going to sleep with him. Kanter Freedom stated in his lawsuit that he responded to Cloud by saying, "I’m not trying to sleep with her. I’m just here to protect women and support her."

Kanter Freedom stood up and stepped onto the court past photographers with his arms outstretched before security intervened. Teammates and staff held back Cloud while Kanter Freedom began walking toward the court. Security escorted him away from the court area after he argued with security and police. He pointed to his shirt while being escorted out of the arena.

Alter denied that Sky general manager Jeff Pagliocca told Kanter Freedom to enjoy the game. He stated the team did not know he was attending until three-and-a-half hours prior because the tickets were not in his name. Alter read a text exchange between Kanter Freedom's manager and Pagliocca to reporters.

The text from the manager read: "You've always been fair to me, so I figured you deserved a heads up in advance. Enes and I will be at the Sky Game tonight. Hope you are all well."

The Metropolitan Pier and Exposition Authority (MPEA), which owns Wintrust Arena, stated in a public filing that the Chicago Sky has exclusive control over arena access during games. The MPEA denied direct involvement in the ejection decision. The lawsuit states that Wintrust Arena is public property owned by the MPEA.

It alleges that the Chicago Sky, MPEA, and City of Chicago conspired to eject Kanter Freedom in retaliation for protected expression. The lawsuit also names Chicago Women’s Basketball Operations, LLC as a defendant.

Kanter Freedom alleged in his lawsuit that he did nothing out of line while attending the game. He claimed he stood and raised his arms only to celebrate a 3-point basket by Sophie Cunningham. He further alleged that his shirt did not violate the WNBA Fan Code of Conduct. The Sky’s Fan Code of Conduct reserves the right to eject any patron that poses a threat to themselves or other guests.

Kanter Freedom announced the lawsuit on social media. He wrote on X: "I’m taking legal action over my ejection from the @chicagosky game while peacefully exercising my First Amendment rights." He added: "My T-shirt did what the whole @WNBA apparently couldn’t: define a woman. No threats. No violence. Just biology. And somehow, that required a security escort."

Natasha Cloud posted a statement of support for the transgender community on Threads after the incident. Kanter Freedom played 11 seasons in the NBA, averaging 11.2 points and 7.8 rebounds across 748 regular-season games. He was selected third overall by the Utah Jazz in the 2011 NBA draft.

Why It Matters

The case centers on the intersection of free speech rights and private venue policies within a publicly owned arena. The lawsuit alleges a conspiracy among multiple government and private entities to suppress protected expression, raising questions about the extent of First Amendment protections in spaces managed by municipal authorities but controlled by private tenants during events.

The dispute shows ongoing tensions regarding gender identity and participation in women's sports. With reports indicating that 19% of transgender youth nationwide were playing sports in 2023, according to the Human Rights Campaign, the incident reflects broader societal debates. The Human Rights Campaign also reported in 2023 that fewer than 1,300 transgender youth played sports in school.

Timeline

On July 21, 2024, Sophie Cunningham made comments about transgender participation in women's sports in an ESPN story. On August 23, 2024, the incident occurred during the Chicago Sky's game against the Indiana Fever. Enes Kanter Freedom sat courtside wearing a shirt that read "WOMAN, noun. adult human female." He entered into a verbal exchange with Chicago Sky guard Natasha Cloud.

Teammates and staff held back Cloud while Enes Kanter Freedom began walking toward the court.

What's New

Additional reporting reveals that Kanter Freedom stated in his lawsuit that he responded to Natasha Cloud by saying, "I’m not trying to sleep with her. Kanter Freedom wrote on X: "I’m taking legal action over my ejection from the @chicagosky game while peacefully exercising my First Amendment rights." His lawsuit alleges that Cloud's verbal attack during the August 23 game was motivated by his 'WOMAN' shirt and his advocacy for women's sports integrity, citing a prior ESPN interview where Cloud expressed similar concerns. The Chicago Sky's owner, Michael Alter, previously stated that the team's decision to ban Kanter Freedom was made jointly by five security authorities, including NBA, WNBA, and Chicago Police Department personnel, citing a perceived threat to safety. The Metropolitan Pier and Exposition Authority (MPEA), which owns Wintrust Arena, stated in a public filing that the Chicago Sky has exclusive control over arena access during games, denying direct involvement in Kanter Freedom's ejection decision. Freedom wrote on X: "You don’t have to agree with my speech, but you don’t get to silence me for it. I will not be intimidated. I will not be silenced. I will continue to stand for women and defend free speech." He also wrote: "My T-shirt did what the whole @WNBA apparently couldn’t: define a woman. No threats. No violence. Just biology. The lawsuit alleges that the Chicago Sky, MPEA, and City of Chicago conspired to eject Kanter Freedom in retaliation for protected expression.

How Sources Differ

Regarding the status and history of Enes Kanter Freedom, sources present different details. Michael Alter public statement notes that Sky owner Michael Alter announced that Enes Kanter Freedom was banned from Sky home games until he can prove he can abide by rules without being a potential threat. In contrast, NBA statistical record states that Enes Kanter Freedom played 11 seasons in the NBA, averaging 11.2 points and 7.8 rebounds across 748 regular-season games.