Natasha Cloud issued a defiant message of support to the transgender community as she posted on social media for the first time since her courtside clash with Enes Kanter Freedom on Sunday night.
Cloud had to be held back by security after confronting the former NBA star, who has declared for the WNBA Draft in response to those in the league who believe transgender athletes should be allowed to play against women.
During the second half at the Wintrust Arena, Chicago Sky star Cloud stormed over to Freedom, who was controversially sitting courtside on the night, and sparked a furious argument.
In a viral clip of the incident, the pair could be seen shouting at each other before the former New York Knicks and Oklahoma City Thunder player stood up and held his arms out, as if he were welcoming the mid-game confrontation from Cloud, who was quickly stopped in her tracks by security.
The Sky star was dragged away from the situation by security and teammates before returning to the game, while Freedom was seen being escorted out of the arena by staff.
Once the dust had settled on Monday, Cloud inadvertently addressed the situation and once again stated her support for transgender people.
WNBA star Natasha Cloud had to be held back by security after going to confront Enes Kanter Freedom – who said he has declared for the WNBA Draft – during her game on Sunday night
She wrote: ‘To every trans kid/person, You are apart of MY community & tribe. You belong. You’re loved. You’re seen. You’re perfect as you are. & you will always be protected by me.’
The 6-foot-10 Freedom later alleged that it was Cloud who initiated the confrontation and told him that Cunningham ‘won’t sleep with you.’
He told OutKick: ‘Sophie Cunningham shot a three, and I put my hands up to celebrate. Literally, a couple [of] possessions later, Natasha came back and started screaming and yelling and said, “She’s not gonna sleep with you.”
‘And I was like, “I am not trying to sleep with her. I’m just here to protect women and support her.” And then, obviously, after that, she started yapping, and she started to walk towards me, and literally I just got up, and then I was like, “I’m just here to protect women, and that’s all.”
‘She started to yell. She started to use some very heavy language. She started to actually cuss, and I was very shocked that there were a lot of kids and that there were a lot of teenagers at that game.
‘I just cannot believe that she was just cussing and using those F-bombs in front of all these kids. I’m sure she’s loved in Chicago and many kids are idolizing her and stuff, but that’s not how a WNBA athlete should react.’
Taking to X after he was removed by security, Freedom wrote: ‘I just got kicked out of a @WNBA game for supporting WOMEN! Let that sink in, AMERICA!’
He also wrote: ‘It’s always women hating on other women’.
Meanwhile, in another video, Freedom was seen arguing with security after being escorted away from his courtside seat, telling them, ‘This is unacceptable.’
Freedom alleged Cloud told him Sophie Cunningham ‘won’t sleep with you’
Cloud stormed over to Freedom, who was sitting courtside, and sparked a furious argument
Freedom, who has spent more than a decade in the NBA, recently sent shockwaves through women’s basketball after revealing he wants to play alongside the likes of Caitlin Clark.
Earlier in the night, Freedom was confronted by furious fans as he arrived at the Wintrust Arena for the Indiana Fever-Chicago Sky clash.
He wore a provocative T-shirt that included a definition of the word woman. ‘Woman. Noun,’ it read. ‘Adult human female.’ The words woman and female were highlighted in red. And he was not given a warm welcome by everyone, with one fan calling the 34-year-old a ‘b**** a** n****’ and telling him to ‘get [his] b**** a** out of Chicago.’
Another said ‘f*** you b****,’ while a third held up their middle finger in the face of Freedom, who was flanked by police outside the arena. ‘We are getting attacked before the @WNBA game in Chicago,’ he posted alongside a video of the incident.
But the former Utah Jazz and New York Knicks star was greeted by cheers and high-fives from other fans in Chicago.
There have been regular protests and counter-protests at WNBA games in recent weeks, after Cunningham sparked controversy by claiming she wants to ‘protect young girls’ from ‘biological men.’
On Monday night, Kanter Freedom doubled down on his intention to join the WNBA amid reports ‘terrified’ women’s basketball bosses have ruled him ineligible for the 2027 draft.
Reports emerged that the league had decided Kanter Freedom – and fellow ex-NBA star Royce White, who has also announced his desire to declare for the draft – would not be allowed to play in the league.
Responding to reports that the WNBA had ruled him ineligible, he said: ‘Listen, Article 13 Section 1 says if you identify as a woman, then you are allowed to play! I identify as a woman, so yes, I can play.’
Kanter Freedom hit back at the ‘terrified’ WNBA following reports he had been ruled ineligible
He added: ‘They’re terrified because I might actually get drafted and play against their big men. I’m probably going to drop 60 points… I’m going to try to beat Wilt Chamberlain’s record [of 100 points in a single game]. I might go over 100 points for sure.’
In the WNBA’s current collective bargaining agreement, it states ‘only players who are women are eligible to play.’ But there is no specific definition of a woman.
According to Front Office Sports, a league representative said that the WNBA is ‘not going to give oxygen to efforts designed to mock the league or use this topic to demean and marginalize others.’
When it was put to the 34-year-old that he will never be allowed to play in the WNBA, Kanter Freedom responded: ‘Why not? That’s the rules. I’m just following the rules.
‘If they ever come out and say: “Okay, we’re changing the rules,” I respect their decision, I will follow the rules. But right now, if you identify as a woman, you’re allowed to play. And I am identifying as a woman and I should be allowed to play.’
