The major topic in the WNBA discourse on Monday has been Sunday night’s confrontation between Chicago Sky guard Natasha Cloud and former NBA big man Enes Kanter Freedom. Late in the third quarter of the Sky’s home game against the Indiana Fever, Cloud could be seen shouting at Kanter Freedom, who was seated courtside wearing a shirt reading “WOMAN noun. adult human female.”
Kanter Freedom, who was just ruled ineligible for the 2027 WNBA Draft after attempting to declare, appeared to take a step toward the court with his arms outstretched before being escorted out of Wintrust Arena by security. The onetime No. 3 overall pick has been outspoken against transgender women in women’s sports, with his support of the Indiana Fever’s Sophie Cunningham potentially serving as the catalyst for last night’s incident.
On Monday morning, Barstool Sports personality Kayce Smith took to X to clarify her stance on the matter. She and Kanter Freedom are on the same side of the issue, but she’s not a fan of how the 34-year-old former hooper is conducting himself.
‘Both things can be true’
“After last night’s antics, this point rings truer than ever. Biological men shouldn’t play in women’s sports AND Enes Kanter continues to turn a serious issue with the WNBA into a distracting clown show. Both things can be true,” Smith wrote.
Smith’s boss, Dave Portnoy, also called Kanter Freedom an “absolute clown for making this issue about him,” while agreeing that transgender women shouldn’t participate in women’s sports.
Smith had also previously expressed her viewpoint during an appearance on “The Will Cain Show” on Fox News.
‘Neither of these men are being serious’
On the Aug. 12 edition of Cain’s program, Smith and Cain discussed Kanter and another ex-NBAer, Royce White, announcing their intentions to enter the 2027 NBA Draft.
“Kayce, I fear— I understand you might disagree with me when it comes to Enes Kanter and Royce White,” Cain asked Smith, a frequent guest.
“It’s not that I disagree with the premise of it, Will, because you’re right, they are forcing the conversation to happen,” Smith responded. “The issue is that the satire has gone so far that it’s giving these people that are getting upset about it an escape hatch. They’re not having to actually answer what is eligible in the WNBA. They’re saying, ‘Look at these men, they’re mocking women athletes, they’re mocking transgender athletes,’ and they’re not actually having to answer the question: who is eligible for the WNBA?”
While Cain went on to applaud White and Kanter Freedom for “forcing the conversation,” Smith was still unmoved.
“But, Will, you and I both know that neither of these men are being serious about becoming transgender women for the WNB. But that’s what these people are going to hold on to,” Smith said.
About Matt Hladik