Rumors

Former NBA player Enes Kanter Freedom, who contends he should be considered eligible for the 2027 WNBA Draft as a woman, recently sued the Chicago Sky, the City of Chicago and others over an Aug. 23 incident in which he was expelled from attending a Sky-Indiana Fever game in Chicago’s Wintrust Arena as a spectator after he and Sky guard Natasha Cloud exchanged words. Kanter’s lawsuit isn’t about whether, by saying he identifies as a woman, he satisfies the eligibility rule contained in Article XIII of the WNBA’s CBA. The rule states that “only players who are women are eligible to play in the WNBA.” The word “woman” isn’t defined or clarified, meaning it’s possible an athlete who was assigned male at birth but identifies as a woman meets the requirement.

Sportico

Chicago Sky guard Natasha Cloud did not address Enes Kanter Freedom by name and called him “irrelevant” during her first media availability since the pair got into a verbal altercation during a game on Aug. 23. “I won’t be talking about anything that happened with an irrelevant person,” Cloud said ahead of the Sky’s game against the New York Liberty Saturday afternoon. “What I will focus on is what actually affects women and children.”

New York Times

The America First Policy Institute has launched an investigation into Enes Kanter Freedom’s removal from a Chicago Sky game and his subsequent ban from Wintrust Arena. AFPI filed a six-page public-records request Friday with the Metropolitan Pier and Exposition Authority, the government entity that owns the arena. The request was submitted on Freedom’s behalf under the Illinois Freedom of Information Act. "Enes Freedom exercised his constitutional right as an American when he attended the WNBA game in Chicago," AFPI chief legal affairs officer Leigh Ann O’Neill said in a statement. "Today, we launched an investigation, seeking critical documents that will assist in our efforts to ensure that public entities are held accountable when American’s constitutional rights are trampled."

FOXnews.com

Kareem Copeland: The Chicago Sky have decided to ban Enes Kanter Freedom from Wintrust Arena moving forward, owner Michael Alter said when speaking to local Chicago media. "He has demonstrated to us, unequivocally, that he has the potential to be a threat."

x.com

Fox News: "I am identifying as a woman and I should be allowed to play." Enes Kanter Freedom joined @IngrahamAngle to explain his decision to declare for the WNBA draft, saying he's "just following the rules." The WNBA has faced backlash for not directly addressing the issue of what makes someone a woman for purposes of WNBA eligibility. The former NBA player spoke out one night after he was thrown out of a WNBA game he attended as a fan following a heated courtside exchange with Chicago Sky guard Natasha Cloud.

x.com

Jackson Thompson: Enes Kanter Feedom told me his Sky game ejection happened because Natasha Cloud mocked him, saying that Sophie Cunnigham "isn't going to sleep with" him. He's now more motivated to reach the WNBA and face Cloud on the court. He suggested he could play at least 6 years in the W, and explained why he wouldn't feel "guilty" about defeating female players or sharing locker rooms with them.

x.com

The Athletic: Former NBA player Enes Kanter Freedom was escorted out of Wintrust Arena on Sunday evening after Chicago Sky guard Natasha Cloud confronted him at his courtside baseline seat.

bsky.app

Skylar Diggins is joining a franchise with a fitting name. The Chicago Sky announced on Saturday that they’re signing of the veteran point guard. She joins the Sky on a two-year contract, per a source familiar with the deal.

New York Times

Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese both missed Sunday’s game between the Indiana Fever and Chicago Sky due to injury—and the game still drew viewership numbers the league would’ve only dreamed of less than two years ago. Sunday’s game between the Fever and Sky drew 1.5 million viewers on ABC, the fourth-most-watched game on the network this year. The game tipped off at 3 p.m. ET. The numbers are down from the first two regular-season meetings this year between the two Midwest rivals. The Fever and Sky faced off in their respective season openers on May 17 in Indiana, and the game drew 2.7 million viewers on ABC—the most-watched WNBA game, regular-season or playoffs, since Clark and Reese were drafted.

Front Office Sports

The Indiana Fever’s 93-58 win over the Chicago Sky last Saturday drew 2.7 million viewers on ABC. That set a record for the most-viewed WNBA regular-season game across ESPN networks and is believed to be the most-viewed WNBA regular-season game in 25 years, since the era when NBC aired the WNBA. The game peaked at 3.1 million viewers.

New York Times

Richard Deitsch: BREAKING for @wnba.com fans: The Fever-Sky game has set a record for most-watched regular season game ever on an ESPN network. Number should come in between 2.5 and 3 million viewers. The @theathletic.bsky.social will have details when numbers are finaled.

bsky.app

The WNBA is investigating allegations of “racial comments” directed toward Chicago Sky forward Angel Reese during the Sky’s 93-58 loss to the Indiana Fever in Indianapolis on Saturday.  A report was filed with the league in response to racist remarks directed at the Sky team, specifically Reese, during Saturday’s game, league sources told Front Office Sports. League sources also stated meetings with both teams and WNBA officials are ongoing.

Front Office Sports

The WNBA is investigating allegations of hateful comments made from the stands during Saturday’s season opener between the Chicago Sky and Indiana Fever, the league said in a statement Sunday. “The WNBA strongly condemns racism, hate and discrimination in all forms — they have no place in our league or in society,” the league said. “We are aware of the allegations and are looking into the matter.”

New York Times

The statement was in response to allegations of “racial” comments directed toward the Chicago Sky’s Angel Reese by either a fan or fans at Gainbridge Fieldhouse, said a source briefed on the situation, who was not authorized to discuss the matter publicly.

New York Times