Megan Rapinoe’s latest episode of her podcast, Why Are You Like This?, dives into the recent WNBA controversy surrounding Enes Kanter Freedom’s ejection from the Chicago Sky vs. Indiana Fever game. Rapinoe elaborates on the situation involving Freedom and Chicago’s Natasha Cloud, which resulted in Freedom being escorted from the arena.
During the third quarter of the game, Cloud scored a basket. A subsequent Fever timeout led to her directing emotion toward Freedom, seated near the basket at Wintrust Arena. The interaction escalated, with Freedom standing up and moving toward Cloud, prompting intervention from players and security. According to Sky officials, Freedom was perceived as a threat, leading to his removal from the premises.
Freedom later shared his side, explaining Cloud’s comment that he was pursuing Fever star Sophie Cunningham romantically, which he refuted. I’m just here to protect women and support her,
Freedom stated. He emphasized his intent was supportive, not inappropriate.
Rapinoe responded to Freedom’s comments with sarcasm on her podcast. He was just out there to protect women,
she remarked. Rapinoe suggested that individuals like Freedom have previously criticized women’s sports, yet now claim concern as these leagues grow in popularity.
As if that’s what we were asking for,
Rapinoe views such claims as bad-faith actions aimed at undermining women’s sports. She acknowledges the real-life presence of these attitudes, including rallies and appearances at events. It’s happening, they’re showing up in real life,
she asserted.
She urges women athletes to remain vocal against discrimination. We do not need men in the WNBA, or women’s sports in general, to make them successful,
she concluded.
Photographs captured the moment during the game with Freedom and Cloud engaging in a heated exchange at Wintrust Arena.
Freedom reaffirmed his stance as pro-women while clarifying he is not anti-trans, emphasizing his right to express his views in public spaces.
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