The Atlanta Dream and State Farm Arena arranged for former NBA player Enes Kanter Freedom to watch Wednesday night's Game 3 of the WNBA Finals against the Golden State Valkyries from a private luxury suite, citing his personal safety concerns.
In a statement, State Farm Arena said Freedom had contacted federal, state and local authorities, the WNBA, the Atlanta Dream and arena officials about his safety. After consultations with the league, Dream ownership and security officials, the arena directed Freedom to watch from the suite, which will have additional security. State police have also assigned an officer to him at his request.
Freedom posted on X that arena security was banning us from our purchased seats, adding, "I guess they have to escort me out of the building." The Dream and State Farm Arena have not confirmed whether he tried to enter the arena and sit in his original seats. It is his first WNBA game since late August, when he was ejected from a Chicago-Indiana game and banned from the arena after a heated interaction with Sky guard Natasha Cloud.
Freedom said he was motivated to attend after Golden State's Gabby Williams said she had no problem with trans athletes playing in the league. Freedom and Royce White, another former NBA player, have declared for the WNBA draft, identifying as women. Commissioner Cathy Engelbert has said only women are eligible, noting both men in a letter to U.S. Rep. Marlin A. Stutzman of Indiana. Freedom responded that the league can define what a woman is but is "absolutely certain" what a man is.
Source: ESPN General · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing