Former NBA forward Enes Kanter was ejected from Sunday night’s Indiana Fever vs. Chicago Sky game.
The former NBA forward, who has “declared” for the 2027 WNBA Draft, was sitting courtside for Sunday’s game on Peacock. Kanter ended up getting into a heated interaction with Sky guard Natasha Cloud. The former Oklahoma City Thunder forward was ultimately tossed from the game.
“Sophie Cunningham shot a three, and I put my hands up to celebrate,” Kanter said. “Literally, a couple possessions later, Natasha came back and started screaming and yelling and said, ‘She’s not gonna sleep with you.’
“And I was like, ‘I am not trying to sleep with her. I’m 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, ‘I’m just here to protect women, and that’s all.’”
Brian Fluharty-USA TODAY Sports
In the wake of Kanter’s ejection and overall behavior, many WNBA fans have been calling for him to be “banned” from all league arenas.
However, Chicago’s arena, the Wintrust Arena, said on Monday that Kanter is not officially banned.
Ultimately, it’ll be the WNBA’s call if the league wants to ban him from attending games.
Kanter not banned from Chicago arena
A Wintrust Arena spokesperson told TMZ Sports: “Based on the incident last night, decisions regarding reprimanding or banning would be the purview of the WNBA.”
Kanter appears to be welcome back at the arena – for now, anyway.
“Former NBA player and WNBA hopeful Enes Kanter Freedom may have had an intense run-in with authorities at Wintrust Arena Sunday night … however, he’s welcome back as long as the WNBA approves, TMZ has learned,” the outlet added.
“A Chicago PD spokesperson tells TMZ … there have been no reports filed regarding the incident … even though Enes was seen surrounded by cops after he was removed from the arena for getting in an altercation Sunday with WNBA Chicago Star player Natasha Cloud.”
Kanter claims to have been tossed from Sunday night’s game for “protecting” women.
