RESOLVING THE LEDGER
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See the full story · 3 sourcesEnes Kanter Freedom suggested he will pursue legal action against the Chicago Sky and owner Michael Alter after Alter invoked shooting a gun as an "extreme example" while explaining why the former NBA center was ejected from Sunday's Sky vs. Fever game without a warning.
"I’m not talking about against the WNBA , but I think against Michael Alter and the Chicago Sky for sure," Freedom said. "Like, I don’t think they know what they’re talking about."
"Me and my legal team will definitely be taking actions against Chicago Sky and Michael Alter," he added.
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Freedom did not identify a specific legal cause of action or say when he plans to file a lawsuit.
Alter made the gun analogy during an exclusive interview with OutKick on Wednesday. He was responding to Freedom’s contention that security should have warned him before ejecting him from Sunday’s game between the Sky and Indiana Fever. Alter said Freedom was deemed a threat when he stepped toward the court, while waving his hands in the air and pointing at a player.
"He wasn’t given a warning because certain threats don’t get warnings," Alter said. "To use an extreme example, when you shoot a gun at someone, you don’t get a warning, ‘Don’t do that again.’ Your action doesn’t deserve a warning. You take action that becomes a threat, you don’t get a warning."
Alter used the example to argue that security does not always need to issue a warning before responding to conduct it considers threatening.
Freedom nevertheless called the statement "unacceptable."
"I mean, he needs to check himself," Freedom said.
Alter announced Tuesday that the Sky had banned Freedom from future team games at Wintrust Arena. Alter said the ban could be reconsidered if Freedom proves to the team’s satisfaction that he can follow its rules without becoming a potential threat.
"They threw me out of the game," Freedom said. "They could’ve given me a warning and said, ‘Hey, next time we’re gonna throw you out.’ And I’m like, ‘Okay, sure.’ But I didn’t do anything. I will still say I didn’t do anything wrong."
Freedom said he paid approximately $4,000 for the courtside tickets, and has requested a refund.
The dispute centers on Freedom’s movement during his third-quarter confrontation with Cloud .
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The WNBA Fan Code of Conduct states that guests who fight, throw objects or attempt to enter the court will be immediately ejected. Alter said security concluded that Freedom attempted to enter the court when he stood, extended his arms, pointed at Cloud and took a step toward the playing surface.
Footage shows security quickly approach Freedom and place a hand on him after he stepped forward.
Freedom insisted that he never intended to enter the court and that the step captured on video was his final movement.
"That was my last step," Freedom said. "I literally just got up and said — I was gonna stop there, but when NBA security came out and just put his hand on me, I’m like, ‘Listen, I’m not gonna get onto the court. I know better.’"
Freedom said he knew where the baseline was because of his 11 seasons in the NBA.
"If I step over the baseline, yes, they have every right to throw me out of the game," Freedom said. "But I know where the baseline was standing, so I did not even get close to the baseline. I literally just got up, take one step forward, which was not even close to the baseline. I literally simply opened my arms and said, ‘I’m here to protect women.’"
Alter acknowledged that he did not know whether Freedom crossed the baseline. He argued that security personnel did not need to wait for him to enter the court before intervening.
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"The security got there as quickly as they could and very fast, and they prevented it," Alter said. "I can’t tell you what his intent was beyond his actions. I don’t know what was in his head."
Freedom insisted he was not going to take another step.
"I’m telling you right now, I was not gonna take another step. I was gonna stop there," he said.
The WNBA Fan Code does not state that every spectator must be warned before ejection.
A warning provision appears in the 2026 WNBA Official Rule Book under "Verbal Fan Interference." That provision applies when a spectator’s verbal abuse interferes with a coach’s ability to communicate with players during a game or huddle.
The separate fan code provision concerning an attempted court entry calls for immediate ejection.
The confrontation involving Freedom occurred late in the third quarter. Freedom said he previously raised his hands to celebrate a shot by Fever guard Sophie Cunningham . He alleged that Cloud later turned toward him and said, "She’s not going to sleep with you."
Freedom said he responded on a later possession that he was not trying to sleep with Cunningham and was only there to support her and "protect women." He alleged that Cloud subsequently directed profanity toward him.
"She started to drop a lot of F-bombs, and she started to curse a lot, and she started to bark at me," Freedom said. "I’m like, ‘There are lots of kids and teenage girls in the stands idolizing you. This is unacceptable.’"
Alter said several nearby spectators independently told him that Freedom initiated the verbal interaction by directing basketball-related trash talk at Cloud earlier in the third quarter.
Freedom denied that account.
"Beginning of the game, I did not say a word to her," Freedom said. "I did not say a word to her."
Alter acknowledged that he had no audio of the alleged earlier trash talk and could not provide Freedom’s exact words. Alter said a woman sitting behind Freedom also said she did not hear him say anything to Cloud, although Alter argued that her position and the arena noise could have prevent...
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