EXCLUSIVE: Former NBA player Enes Kanter Freedom said Chicago Sky guard Natasha Cloud made a vulgar remark toward him and repeatedly cursed before security removed him from Sunday nights game against the Indiana Fever.
Freedom, who was sitting near the baseline at Wintrust Arena, said the confrontation began after he celebrated a 3-pointer by Fever guard Sophie Cunningham.
“Sophie Cunningham shot a three, and I put my hands up to celebrate,” Freedom said. “Literally, a couple possessions later, Natasha came back and started screaming and yelling and said, Shes not gonna sleep with you.
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“And I was like, I am not trying to sleep with her. Im just here to protect women and support her. And then, obviously, after that she started yapping, and she started to walk towards me, and literally I just got up, and then I was like, Im just here to protect women, and thats all.”
Video of the incident showed Cloud walking toward Freedom, yelling and pointing at him late in the third quarter. Freedom stood, extended his arms and took a step onto the court as security and Sky players moved between them.
Freedom said Cloud then began using profanity in front of young fans.
“She started to yell. She started to use some very heavy language. She started to actually cuss, and I was very shocked that there were a lot of kids and that there were a lot of teenagers at that game,” Freedom said.
“I just cannot believe that she was just cussing and using those F-bombs in front of all these kids. Im sure shes loved in Chicago and many kids are idolizing her and stuff, but thats not how a WNBA athlete should react.”
The confrontation came with 1:22 remaining in the third quarter, after Cloud scored inside and celebrated with teammate Aicha Coulibaly. Cloud then turned and approached Freedom, who was wearing a black shirt that read, “WOMAN noun. adult human female.”
He said he believes the shirt contributed to Clouds reaction.
“I was cheering for my friend Sophie because when she shot that three, I put my hands in the air,” Freedom said. “A couple possessions later, she came back and said, Shes not gonna sleep with you. And I was shocked. I was like, Listen, Im not trying to sleep with her. I think shes awesome. Shes a good friend. But I think it has a lot to do with my shirt.
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“I was obviously wearing a shirt explaining what a woman is, and I think that had a lot to do with what she thinks about women. I think it triggered her a lot.”
Cloud sent a message to the trans community after the game, in a post on Threads.
“To every trans kid/person, You are apart of MY community & tribe. You belong. Youre loved. Youre seen. Youre perfect as you are. & you will always be protected by me,” Cloud wrote.
OutKick reached out to Cloud’s rep for further comment.
She wasn’t made available during the team’s postgame press conference.
Sky coach Tyler Marsh defended Cloud after the game, telling reporters, “We all embrace her as someone who protects our team and protects people who need to be protected.”
Freedom said security approached him and ordered him to leave without providing an explanation.
“I was like, Can you please tell me why I need to leave? They said, Look, you just need to leave,” Freedom said. “They pretty much pushed
