Chicago Sky guard Natasha Cloud has thrown down the gauntlet, calling for a league-wide ban of former NBA player Enes Kanter Freedom from all WNBA games. This comes hot off a heated verbal exchange between the two during a Sky game last week, an incident that already saw Kanter Freedom escorted from the building and subsequently banned from Sky home games. Cloud did not even use his name when talking to reporters on Saturday, labeling him “irrelevant” and making it clear she wants the conversation to shift.
“We’re Asking For Protection”
Cloud pulled no punches about why she’s advocating for this ban. “We’re asking for protection, and that’s what protection looks like from a man,” Cloud stated, via The Athletic. She went on to say, “We can’t not allow him in the arena before the game, but after the game, we can bring solutions to the table that best benefit putting our players first and protecting our players.” It’s a direct challenge to the league, demanding they step up. Sky general manager Jeff Pagliocca, head coach Tyler Marsh, and team owner Michael Alter earned Cloud’s praise for how they handled the situation and tried to keep players safe. She even added, “I hope the WNBA follows their lead.” This whole situation intensified after Kanter Freedom and another former NBA player, Royce White, made headlines trying to challenge the WNBA’s eligibility rules, though league sources have since confirmed they aren’t eligible.
Beyond the Distraction: Real Issues
Cloud, a veteran guard in her 11th season, has always been outspoken on political and social issues, even before Chicago signed her to a one-year deal in May. Her fiery spirit continued this season, especially after two separate incidents where sex toys were thrown onto the court during Sky games, including one against the Golden State Valkyries. But when asked about Kanter Freedom on Saturday, Cloud pivoted, refusing to talk about “an irrelevant person.” Instead, she wants to focus on what actually affects women and children, highlighting issues like domestic violence, sexual assault, food insecurity, and the ongoing war in the Middle East. “It’s not our trans human beings. It’s not our drag queens. It’s not our gay community,” Cloud said via The Athletic, adding that anyone can do a “simple Google search of what is the greatest threat to women and children in 2026 in the United States of America, and it’s not going to be trans people.” Cloud is convinced the entire debate around the WNBA right now is an “intentional distraction.” As she put it, via Front Office Sports, “The more that we hate each other, the more that we have bias against each other, the more we’re going to be distracted from real life issues that are plaguing our communities.” This entire situation underscores the rising problem of extremism and threats targeting WNBA players. Sky co-owner Nadia Rawlinson even told NPR that the team has partnered with threat intelligence company Moonshot and American University’s PERIL, the Polarization and Extremism Research and Innovation Lab, to help monitor online threats.
This isn’t just about one incident, is it? Cloud’s passionate push highlights the serious threats WNBA players are facing, and the commitment of teams like the Sky to protect them. With extremism on the rise and online threats a real issue, the league needs to listen to its veterans like Cloud. What steps will the WNBA take next to truly put its players first and address these “real issues?”
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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