NEED TO KNOW
- Enes Kanter Freedom claims he was asked to leave State Farm Arena in Atlanta
- Freedom said he wanted to attend with his own purchased seats, but officials said he would have to sit in a private suite
- Freedom previously complained that he was worried about his safety at the arena
Enes Kanter Freedom pulled up to Game 3 of the WNBA Finals on Wednesday, Oct. 21, at State Farm Arena — and says he was thrown out when he refused to accept a private suite provided for him after he complained about his safety.
“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,” State Farm Arena said in a statement before Wednesday night’s game between the Dream and the Golden State Valkyries. “The safety and security of our guests and team members is our highest priority.
The statement continued, “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. 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.”
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Yet when the former NBA player — who has been an adversarial figure amid the league’s transgender player controversy — arrived at the Atlanta arena, he was denied access to attend with seats that he had previously purchased.
🚨 ATTENTION!
— Enes Kanter FREEDOM (@EnesFreedom) October 21, 2026
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. pic.twitter.com/f2adrlkWhx
“I guess they have to escort me out of the building,” Freedom, wearing a smirk and a shirt that read “What is a woman?” said while speaking with the league’s director of security in a video that he posted on X.
“Do you know every media outlet is gonna hear about this, right?” Freedom said.
Later, Freedom posted another video that showed him being denied entry at the gate.
“If you come in you have to agree to go to the suite,” an arena official said to him.
“I purchased tickets, right? Just because I purchased tickets, I would like to sit in my seat,” Freedom said. “That’s all I want.”
An Atlanta police officer then told Freedom he would have to leave.
“You’re free to go to the city of Atlanta streets,” the officer said. “That’s another private establishment over there. He’s free to go there. He just can’t be here.”
On Monday, Oct. 19, Freedom announced on social media that he was planning to attend the game, which turns out not to be the first time he was asked to leave.
On Aug. 23, he was tossed from the Indiana Fever-Chicago Sky game after a heated exchange with Sky star Natasha Cloud.
During the third quarter of that August game in Chicago, Freedom, 34, was seen yelling at the Sky guard after she began interacting with him.
As Cloud, 34, pointed at Kanter Freedom and advanced toward him along the baseline, she had to be restrained by teammates.
Wearing a shirt that read, “WOMAN noun adult human female,” security escorted the former NBA journeyman away from his courtside seat. On his way out of Wintrust Arena, Freedom engaged with a booing crowd and mocked Cloud with a “talking hands” gesture.
Read the original article on People