Former NBA player Enes Kanter Freedom's plans to attend Game 3 of the WNBA Finals in protest of the notion of transgender participation in the league took a seating-arrangement turn on Wednesday.
State Farm Arena, where Games 3 and 4 are hosted, announced in a statement that Kanter Freedom would be relocated to a private suite, citing security concerns that he brought about himself.
"Enes Kanter Freedom has contacted federal, state and local authorities, the WNBA, the Atlanta Dream and State Farm Arena officials to express concerns about his personal safety during his planned attendance at Game 3 of the WNBA Finals tonight. The safety and security of our guests and team members is our highest priority," the statement read.
It was not announced where Kanter Freedom originally was planning to sit at State Farm Arena, but he was sitting courtside on the baseline in an August game between the Chicago Sky and Indiana Fever. He was wearing a shirt that said: "Woman noun. an adult human female."
Fever forward Sophie Cunningham had previously shared opposition to trans athletes participating in the WNBA. In August, Kanter Freedom and Sky player Natasha Cloud got into an argument during the game and he was ejected from the game as well as banned from the arena.
"Following consultations with the WNBA, Dream ownership, State Farm Arena leadership and security officials, we have directed Mr. Freedom to watch tonight's game from a private luxury suite," the statement continued. "This arrangement is intended to address his security concerns and help provide a safe and positive experience for him and other guests. The suite will have additional security and will be his designated viewing location for the game. State police have also assigned an officer to Mr. Freedom at his request."
Before the arena's statement, Kanter had posted a video on social media insinuating that he'd been banned from the game.
"ATTENTION! Just talked to director of security of the @NBA and they are now banning us from our purchased seats. Shame on @WNBA I guess they have to escort me out of the building. Stay tuned," his post said.
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There’s more to San Francisco with the Chronicle. Subscribe today for just 25¢.This article originally published at Enes Kanter Freedom gets luxury suite, police detail at WNBA Finals Game 3 after ‘security concerns'.