Chicago Sky principal owner Michael Alter just dropped a bomb, publicly calling a lawsuit filed by former NBA player Enes Kanter Freedom “meritless and frivolous.” That’s the word from Alter himself in a statement released Friday, responding to a suit that hit the courts just Thursday. This isn’t just a minor squabble; Alter noted this will be his last public comment on the matter, signaling this fight is heading straight to the courtroom.
The Lawsuit’s Wild Claims and the Sky’s Defense
Kanter Freedom’s lawsuit is alleging some serious stuff, claiming his First Amendment rights got violated when he was ejected from the Sky’s August 23 game against the Indiana Fever. Not only that, he also got banned indefinitely from Wintrust Arena, where the Sky plays. The suit names the Sky, the city of Chicago, and the Metropolitan Pier and Exposition Authority as defendants. That’s a lot of targets for one complaint!
But Alter isn’t having any of it. He’s fired back hard, stating Freedom’s claim about being removed due to his speech is flat-out false. According to Alter, Freedom’s *own complaint* acknowledges he wore the controversial shirt for multiple hours without any issue from security. The owner insists security only intervened after Freedom violated the fan code of conduct by rising from his seat, gesturing at a player, and even stepping toward the court. This means, Alter says, Freedom was removed for his *conduct*, not his speech. This isn’t a freedom of expression issue; it’s a fan breaking rules. Alter definitely sounds ready for this fight, stating, “We look forward to the truth prevailing in court.”
On-Court Drama, an Indefinite Ban, and League Reaction
So what actually went down? Late in the third quarter of that Sky versus Fever game, Kanter Freedom, wearing a shirt that read “woman noun. adult human female.”, got into a verbal altercation with Sky guard Natasha Cloud. Things escalated when he moved toward the court. Security immediately jumped in, escorting him from his courtside seat before anything else could happen. He protested a bit, but he was removed from the arena. Two days later, the Sky made it official, banning him from Wintrust Arena indefinitely. Alter didn’t mince words back then, either, saying Freedom “has demonstrated to us, unequivocally, that he has the potential to be a threat.”
This whole situation also has a backdrop of the ongoing debate about transgender athletes, with Kanter Freedom and fellow former NBA player Royce White declaring themselves eligible for the WNBA. While the league itself hasn’t said anything official, CBS Sports talked to sources within the WNBA. Those sources reportedly do not consider the eligibility of Kanter Freedom and White a legitimate issue at all, viewing their recent actions as nothing more than publicity stunts. Talk about a cold shoulder from the league!
This whole thing is now in the hands of the courts, with Alter saying his public comments are done. The stakes are high for everyone involved: the Sky, the city, and the principle of fan conduct versus alleged free speech violations. We’ll be watching closely to see what truth actually prevails in court.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by CBS Sports.
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