Former Women's National Basketball Association player Angel McCoughtry has called for the league to ban former NBA player Enes Kanter Freedom from all of its arenas after he was ejected from a Chicago Sky game following a courtside confrontation.
Kanter Freedom was removed from the Chicago Sky fixture against the Indiana Fever last week after an altercation with Sky player Natasha Cloud, during which he wore a black T-shirt printed with "WOMAN noun. adult human female" as part of an ongoing campaign regarding transgender policies in women's sports.
Following the incident, the Chicago Sky owner confirmed that the former center is barred from attending future home games at the arena because he "has the potential to be a threat." McCoughtry, a 13-year WNBA veteran and five-time All-Star, argued that the entire league should implement a league-wide ban after the WNBA previously blocked Kanter Freedom from attempting to enter the 2027 WNBA Draft in what she described as a publicity stunt.
Speaking to TMZ Sports, McCoughtry criticized what she described as disrespectful actions directed towards women's professional basketball, referencing another recent incident where adult toys were thrown onto the court during a game, resulting in the ejection and ban of the individual responsible.
McCoughtry questioned the motivation behind the protests targeting the league. "I just have a question to the guys out there. What is the obsession? The dildos are being thrown on the ground," she said to TMZ Sports. "You guys are coming with the shirts. There's no transgender in the WNBA. So y'all are going on a frenzy about what? What is the obsession with this? Why can't we play and have fun?"
Criticism of Kanter Freedom
Addressing Kanter Freedom directly, McCoughtry referenced his background and legal status in his native country. "There's a reason Enes is banned from his country, Turkey. Something's going on with that," McCoughtry said. "But like, leave women alone. Who messes with women? If you mess with women, you're a weak man."
Kanter Freedom, who was born in Switzerland and raised in Turkey, had his Turkish passport canceled and a bounty placed on his head after he began speaking out publicly against Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Seven years after having his Turkish citizenship revoked, the 6ft 10inch center became an American citizen in 2021, changing his last name to Freedom. He spent 11 years in the NBA, last playing for the Boston Celtics in 2022.
McCoughtry contrasted Kanter Freedom's actions with those of active NBA players who support the women's game. "Real NBA players, they don't have time for that," she said. "They come and support our game and we figure out ways we can create and grow."
She expressed concern that without a league-wide prohibition, similar disruptions could occur in other cities. "What, are you about to come to L.A. next and do it or go to New York next and do it? So yeah, you should be banned. And then to prove a point. That we don't have time for that and we're not tolerating that kind of behavior. Leave us alone," McCoughtry said.
Reactions Across the WNBA
McCoughtry emphasized that there are currently no active transgender players in the WNBA, making the ongoing protests unnecessary. "There's not an active trans player in the WNBA. Why y'all keep coming at us? It has nothing to do with us right now. If it happened, then have the conversation. It's not happening," she stated.
McCoughtry is not the only prominent figure around the WNBA to condemn Kanter Freedom's actions. Los Angeles Sparks star Cameron Brink also called him out this week during an interview with The Mirror, referring to him as a "stupid piece of s***" and accusing him of attempting to remain relevant through artificial controversy.
"I think what, I don't even know what the f*** his name is, he's a stupid piece of s***," Brink told The Mirror. "And I think a lot of people think that, and I think he's just trying to stay relevant."
Brink acknowledged that fans and observers can hold differing views on complex topics, but condemned using the issue for attention. "I think people are tuned in for the right reasons and it's great that we can all talk about things that are important and hard and even have your own opinions on that," Brink told The Mirror. "But I think taking something that's a non-issue right now and just trying to use it for clickbait or for views for likes, and then targeting a vulnerable community, is just really low."
