Cloud Refuses to Engage with Banned Former NBA Player, Focuses on Women's Issues

Chicago Sky guard Natasha Cloud declined to discuss Enes Kanter Freedom, calling him irrelevant, and instead highlighted domestic violence, sexual assault, and food insecurity as key concerns for women. Freedom was banned from future Sky home games by owner Michael Alter after a confrontation with Cloud during a recent game. Cloud praised the organization's decision to protect players.

The confrontation occurred during the third quarter of Chicago's home game against Indiana, after Cloud scored and chest-bumped teammate Aicha Coulibaly before approaching Freedom along the baseline. Security and several Sky players intervened as Freedom stepped onto the court. Sky owner Michael Alter subsequently banned Freedom from all future home games, a decision Cloud publicly endorsed as player protection.

Freedom and fellow former NBA player Royce White had declared for the WNBA draft claiming female identity, but were ruled ineligible. The league's collective bargaining agreement restricts participation to women without specifying gender identity criteria. Cloud redirected discussion toward domestic violence, sexual assault, and food insecurity, while noting the game drew 3.3 million viewers, the WNBA's largest audience since 1997.