A former Los Angeles Lakers player has publicly supported Enes Kanter Freedom and reiterated his opposition to the WNBA’s policy on transgender athletes, according to Fox News. The remarks come days after Kanter Freedom was ejected from a Chicago Sky game following a heated exchange with guard Natasha Cloud.
Fox News reports that the ex-Lakers player doubled down on his criticism of the league’s stance, aligning himself with Kanter Freedom’s position. The outlet did not specify the exact comments made by the former player, but the report frames the remarks as a defense of Kanter Freedom’s actions and a continuation of the debate over transgender participation in women’s sports.
Kanter Freedom, a former NBA center, was removed from the arena during the Sky game after the confrontation with Cloud, according to Yahoo Sports and ABC News. ESPN separately reported that Kanter Freedom is not eligible to play in the WNBA, and that a decision on whether he will be banned from arenas remains pending.
In a separate Fox News interview, Kanter Freedom said the WNBA cannot ban him because he “identifies as a woman,” a comment that has drawn attention amid the ongoing controversy. The league has not publicly responded to that statement, and no official ruling on a potential arena ban has been announced.
The incident has intensified the broader national conversation about transgender inclusion in professional sports, with Kanter Freedom and his supporters framing the issue as a matter of fairness, while critics accuse them of targeting transgender athletes. The WNBA has not issued a formal statement on the ejection or the eligibility question.
What to watch next: Whether the WNBA issues a formal response to Kanter Freedom’s comments or takes action on a potential arena ban in the coming days.
