Enes Kanter files lawsuit against Chicago Sky after ban

Enes Kanter is seeking legal action against the Chicago Sky following his ban from the Wintrust Arena for WNBA games.

Last month, the former NBA player was escorted out of the Wintrust Arena during a Sky game against the Indiana Fever when he got into a verbal altercation with Natasha Cloud. Kanter was wearing a black T-shirt that read: “WOMAN noun. adult human female.” He was sitting courtside when the Sky guard shouted at him during a timeout. He outstretched his arms and began to take a few steps onto the court but was stopped by security. The former NBA star was then directed to leave the venue and not return.

Now, Kanter is suing the Sky, the City of Chicago, and the owners of Wintrust Arena, the Metropolitan Pier and Exposition Authority, claiming that his First Amendment rights were violated, amid court documents obtained by ABC7.

Sky owner Michael Alter said the former NBA player attempted to provoke Cloud.

“[Kanter Freedom] has demonstrated to us, unequivocally, that he has the potential to be a threat,” Alter said. “That he is not able to control himself to the extent where we can be comfortable that he may [not] step towards the court again and towards the players.

“So, so that is the basis for which we will not permit him into the building until such time as he can prove otherwise.”

Following the news of the lawsuit on Thursday, Sept. 3, MEPA made a statement, “We do not have any comment on litigation filed by Mr. Freedom. The agreement between MPEA and the Chicago Sky provide the Sky with ability to control whether any individual may access Wintrust Arena on Chicago Sky game days. The Chicago Sky informed MPEA that Enes Freedom was removed from the arena and banned from future Chicago Sky events because he violated rules imposed by the WNBA. MPEA employees were not involved in those decisions. The Chicago Sky’s decision to ban Enes Freedom is only applicable to the Chicago Sky or WNBA games, it does not apply to the majority of events at Wintrust Arena, including other sporting events, comedy shows, and concerts.”

Kanter also shared a statement on X following news of the lawsuit:

“SEE YOU IN COURT!!! Just filed a federal complaint,” Kanter began his post on X, alongside a photo of the filing. “I’m taking legal action over my ejection from the @chicagosky game while peacefully exercising my First Amendment rights. My T-shirt did what the whole @WNBA apparently couldn’t: define a woman.”

He continued to defend his behavior at the game claiming he posted, “No threats. No violence. Just biology. And somehow, that required a security escort.”

Kanter concluded his statement, “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.

The lawsuit follows Kanter and Royce White’s campaigns to play for the WNBA in light of conversations regarding transgender athletes.

The WNBA collective bargaining agreement signed in March states that “only players who are women are eligible to play in the WNBA,” and there are no parameters for transgender athletes at this time.

Despite Kanter and White positioning themselves at the center of the debate, multiple sources told ESPN last month that the two are not eligible to play in the league.

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