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Freedom Denied Entry to WNBA Finals After Rejecting Safety Suite
· Confirmed
In Short: Former NBA player Enes Kanter Freedom was denied entry to Game 3 of the WNBA Finals after refusing a private suite offered for his safety.
Former NBA player Enes Kanter Freedom was denied entry to Game 3 of the WNBA Finals after refusing a private suite offered for his safety. State Farm Arena said in a statement that Freedom had contacted federal, state, and local authorities to express concerns about his personal safety during his planned attendance.
Freedom, who has been advocating for transgender athletes' eligibility in the WNBA, was offered a private luxury suite with additional security. However, he rejected the offer, insisting on sitting in his purchased seat.
Freedom's refusal led to a heated confrontation with security officials at the State Farm Arena. He was told he could not enter the arena unless he agreed to sit in the designated suite.
Freedom posted a video on social media showing him being informed at the entry gate: 'If you come in you have to agree to go to the suite.' He was then seen exiting the arena.
Freedom accused the organizations involved of excluding him because of his advocacy. He said, 'They kicked me out of the game for supporting women. They’re not letting me in the arena for protecting women and supporting women. Shame on the NBA. Shame on the WNBA.'
WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert has stated that only women are eligible to play in the league, and individuals like Freedom and Royce White are men.
The WNBA became a battleground for the debate after comments by Indiana Fever guard Sophie Cunningham, who said she had no problem with trans athletes playing on her team or against her team.
Freedom was offered the suite for his safety and he rejected it, leading to his exclusion from the arena. He was met by a team official who told him, 'If you come in you have to agree to go to the suite.'
Freedom's exit from the stadium came after he declined to stay in a private suite that was provided to him by the Dream as a safety measure.
The game proceeded without Freedom, with Angel Reese scoring 21 points and grabbing 12 rebounds to help the Atlanta Dream take a 2-1 lead in the best-of-seven Finals with a 97-71 victory over the Valkyries.
Background
Former NBA player Enes Kanter Freedom was denied entry to Game 3 of the WNBA Finals after refusing a private suite offered for his safety.
What's confirmed
- "Enes Kanter Freedom has contacted federal, state and local authorities, the WNBA, the Atlanta Dream and State Farm Arena officials to express concerns about his personal safety during his planned attendance at Game 3 of the WNBA Finals tonight," State Farm Arena said in a statement before Wednesday's game.
- "With respect to your questions regarding eligibility, only women are eligible to play in the WNBA and the individuals you cite in your letter are both men," Engelbert wrote, referring to Freedom and White.
- "Following consultations with the WNBA, Dream ownership, State Farm Arena leadership and security officials, we have directed 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 be his designated viewing location for the game. State police have also assigned an officer to Mr. Freedom at his request."
- "was offered the suite for his safety and he rejected it."
- ATLANTA -- Former NBA player Enes Kanter Freedom was denied entry to Game 3 of the WNBA Finals, according to a video he posted to social media, after he refused to sit in a private suite arranged for him by the Atlanta Dream and State Farm Arena in response to his concerns about his personal safety.
- "I guess they have to escort me out of the building."
- "Apparently the WNBA still can't define what a WOMAN is, but they're absolutely certain they know what a MAN is! How convenient!"
- "As you all know, this all started with an interview featuring Gabby Williams of the Golden State Valkyries, when she said, 'I have no problem with trans athletes playing on my team or against my team,'" Freedom said in his post.
- Former NBA player Enes Kanter Freedom tells OutKick that he is in contact with the FBI after receiving death threats over his plans to attend Game 3 of the WNBA Finals in Atlanta Former NBA player Enes Kanter Freedom was seen leaving State Farm Arena on Wednesday after a heated and lengthy confrontation with police at the security entrance over his seating arrangement for Game 3 of the WNBA Finals.
- Afterward, Freedom accused the organizations involved of excluding him because of his advocacy.
- Moments before the Valkyries and the Dream were set to play Game 3 of the WNBA Finals on Wednesday night, former NBA player Enes Kanter Freedom said he was kicked out of State Farm Arena.
- Freedom demanded he be allowed to sit in his purchased seat, and for the second time this season didn’t make it through a WNBA game.
What's still developing
- He was subsequently banned from Wintrust Arena indefinitely by Sky ownership, but the WNBA did not issue a league-wide ban.
- "So we’re saying we’re gonna make this a safe environment for you."
- A spokesperson for Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp separately told OutKick that the governor’s office had connected Freedom’s team with the appropriate law enforcement resources.
- He accused those handling the encounter of bullying him and compared the proposed suite restriction to being placed in a cage.
- When he arrived at the arena, he was told that if he were let in, he was told by a security officer he would have to go to the suite that was designated for him, to which Freedom aggressively protested, as seen in footage posted by Benny Johnson.
- "My DMs are full of pictures and videos of the moment that Charlie Kirk got shot," Freedom said, adding that the messages warned he would suffer the same fate.
- In the weeks before the game, Kanter publicly declared himself eligible for the WNBA draft, according to his own interpretation of the league’s rules.
- “The safety and security of our guests and team members is our highest priority.” Kanter Freedom, who has protested the league’s vague policy on what constitutes a woman by attempting to join the league himself, insisted that the matter wasn’t about safety.
- That’s all I want.” An Atlanta police officer told Freedom: “You’re free to go to the city of Atlanta streets.
- “It feels good when you’re in the finals – when you can do it at the highest level; this is what I live for,” Reese said.
- But Atlanta responded with an 8-0 run to pull clear again, and took a stranglehold on the contest after outscoring Golden State 25-17 in the third to lead by 14 points heading into the final period.
- Three-time WNBA All-Star and reigning defensive player of the year Reese followed up her 30-point display in game two on Monday to once again lead the Atlanta scoring with 21 points.