Dream place Kanter Freedom in suite for Finals safety
The Atlanta Dream moved Enes Kanter Freedom into a suite for a WNBA Finals game as a safety precaution. Earlier this season, Freedom was ejected from a WNBA game after a confrontation with a player.
Freedom, who last played in the NBA in 2022 after 11 seasons and 748 appearances, has become known for online activism. Four days before Game 3, he said publicly he would attend and mentioned Dream center Angel Reese and Valkyries forward Gabby Williams.
He had earlier been removed from a Chicago Sky game in August after a verbal clash with Sky guard Natasha Cloud; the team then barred him from its arena. The Dream announced his suite seating about 40 minutes before tipoff, with extra arena security and a state police officer assigned at his request.
The episode may heighten attention on how arenas balance spectator safety, free expression and players’ focus during high-profile games. It could affect fans and staff through tighter security and seating rules, and may add pressure on leagues to set clearer policies for public figures whose presence becomes a flashpoint. Players and transgender athletes could also face intensified scrutiny, though the immediate impact remains uncertain.