Former NBA player Enes Kanter Freedom claims he was not allowed into Game 3 of the WNBA Finals on Wednesday night between the Atlanta Dream and the Golden State Valkyries. Liberty posted a video on social media after she refused to sit in a private room offered to her by Dream and State Farm Arena after expressing concerns about her safety.
“Enes Kanter Freedom has contacted federal, state and local authorities, the WNBA, the Atlanta Dream and State Farm Arena officials regarding her personal safety concerns during her planned attendance at tonight’s Game 3 of the WNBA Finals,” State Farm Arena said in a statement prior to Wednesday’s game. “The safety and security of our guests and team members is our highest priority.”
“After consultation with the WNBA, Dream ownership, State Farm Arena management and security officials, we have arranged for Mr. Freedom to watch tonight’s game from a private luxury suite. This arrangement is intended to address his security concerns and help provide a safe and positive experience for him and other guests. The suite will have additional security and will also be assigned to a designated police office for his assigned police department. Freedom at his request.”
In a video posted on social media before the announcement, Freedom claimed that arena security was “banning us from the seats we bought.” According to ESPN, a State Farm Arena public relations official said Freedom “was offered a security package and he turned it down.”
“I got kicked out of a WNBA game for the second time in a row for supporting WOMEN!” Freedom wrote.
Chicago Sky owner Enes Kanter responds to Freedom’s free speech lawsuit: ‘Disrespectful and senseless’
Jack Maloney
Freedom, who played in the NBA from 2011-22, spent months announcing her eligibility for the 2027 WNBA Draft along with former NBA player Royce White and used social media to become part of the conversation around transgender athletes. The WNBA became a hotbed of debate after comments made by Indiana Fever guard Sophie Cunningham. Freedom and White both claim to be women.
In August Freedom was thrown away From Chicago Sky vs Indiana Fever after getting into a verbal altercation with Sky guard Natasha Cloud. Sky was subsequently banned from Wintrust Arena indefinitely by ownership, but the WNBA did not issue a league-wide ban.
Earlier this week, WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert sent a letter to U.S. Rep. Marlin A. Stutzman of Indiana in which she responded to a query sent to Stutzman and several other representatives about WNBA eligibility. “Regarding your eligibility questions, only women are eligible to play in the WNBA and the individuals you mentioned in your letter are both men,” Engelbert wrote, referring to Freedom and White.