Moments before the Valkyries and the Dream were set to play Game 3 of the WNBA Finals on Wednesday night, former NBA player Enes Kanter Freedom said he was kicked out of State Farm Arena.
Freedom’s exit from the stadium came after he declined to stay in a private suite that was provided to him by the Dream as a safety measure.
According to a statement from State Farm Arena, “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,” the statement read. “The safety and security of our guests and team members is our highest priority.
“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.”
Before the game started, Freedom posted a video of himself on X with the caption that read, “Just talked to director of the @NBA and they are now banning us from our purchased seats.”
Freedom went on to write, “Shame on @WNBA. I guess they have to escort me out of the building. Stay tuned.”
While the game went on without him, Freedom showed up to the stadium during halftime while wearing a black shirt that read “What Is A Woman?”
Freedom was immediately met by a team official and was told, “If you come in you have to agree to go to the suite.”
Freedom told the Dream official, “I purchased tickets, right? Just because I purchased tickets, I would like to sit at my seat.”
As Freedom continued to try and negotiate his way into the stadium, an Atlanta police officer told him, “We have to get off State Farm property. You’re free to go to the city of Atlanta streets. That’s another private establishment over there. He’s free to go to there. He just can’t be here.”
Freedom was then seen exiting the arena and said, “They kicked me out of the game for supporting women. They’re not letting me in the arena for protecting women and supporting women. Shame on the NBA. Shame on the WNBA.”
On Monday, Freedom posted a video on X announcing his intentions to attend Game 3 of the WNBA Finals.
Freedom said he was looking forward to seeing Valkyries star, Gabby Williams, as he wrote, “this all started with an interview featuring Gabby Williams of the Golden State @Valkyries, when she said, ‘I have no problem with trans athletes playing on my team or against my team.’”
Freedom has been in the controversial limelight as of late, when he announced over the summer that he was planning to enter the WNBA Draft as a transgender athlete.
