A polarizing debate has taken over the WNBA after Indiana Fever guard Sophie Cunningham spoke out last month about not wanting transgender athletes in the league. Since then, the conversation has only grown, and former NBA player Enes Kanter Freedom added another twist by declaring for the 2027 WNBA Draft.
Freedom’s courtside appearance at the Indiana Fever-Chicago Sky game Sunday created another flashpoint in the transgender athlete debate. Soon after, former NFL star Ryan Clark also weighed in on the incident.
Ryan Clark Calls Out Enes Freedom for His Beef With WNBA Star Natasha Cloud
Freedom sat along the baseline at Wintrust Arena. Then, late in the third quarter, he had a heated exchange with Sky guard Natasha Cloud.
After Cloud scored inside with 1:22 left, Indiana called a timeout. Cloud then moved toward Freedom, who stepped onto the court as the situation escalated.
Security and Sky players quickly moved between the two before officials escorted the former NBA center away from the court area.
Within minutes, sports fans began debating whether officials treated Freedom unfairly or whether he pushed his protest too far.
Clark, however, made his position clear while addressing the former NBA center’s confrontation with Cloud.
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“The sad thing is some of you will applaud his behavior,” he wrote on X.
The incident escalated so much because Freedom had already placed himself directly in the middle of the WNBA’s transgender-athlete debate. He declared himself eligible for the 2027 WNBA Draft after claiming he had examined the league’s eligibility rules.
Just days ago, Freedom also branded Cunningham an ‘American hero’ for her stance on trans athletes.
“First of all, I want to say she’s an American hero,” he told Fox News. “But obviously, if you’re standing up for something that you believe in, you’re going to get hate all the time.”
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“But I think she’s inspiring not only the players in the WNBA but also girls from all over the world, not only in America,” he added.
Then, before the Fever game, Freedom again ignited the debate on social media. He posted a pic wearing a shirt that read “WOMAN: noun” and “adult human female.”
He also took a shot at the WNBA in his caption. “Careful what you wish for, WNBA. Freedom of speech never looked this good. Somehow controversial.”
The post set the tone for what followed at Wintrust Arena.
After security removed him from the game, Freedom presented the ejection as a victory for his cause.
“I just got kicked out of a WNBA game for supporting WOMEN! Let that sink in, AMERICA!” he posted on X.
Amid this controversy, the Fever handled business on the court, cruising to a 113-90 win and ending its two-game losing streak.
