Follow-up: Enes Kanter Freedom escorted out after refusing suite at WNBA Finals Game 3 in Atlanta
ATLANTA, Georgia — Game 3 of the WNBA Finals between the Atlanta Dream and the Golden State Valkyries at State Farm Arena in Atlanta, Fulton County, Georgia, was preceded on October 21 by a confrontation between former NBA player Enes Kanter Freedom and arena security, after which he was escorted out and never took his seat.
According to multiple outlets, Freedom had contacted federal, state and local authorities, the WNBA, the Dream and arena officials before the game to express concern for his safety, saying he had received thousands of death threats over his planned attendance. The Dream and the arena responded by relocating him to a private luxury suite with added security, and the arena said in a statement that the safety of guests and team members is its highest priority. Freedom refused the arrangement and insisted on the courtside seat he had bought: "I purchased tickets, right? Just because I purchased tickets, I would like to sit in my seat. That's all I want." He posted video of a call with arena security in which he said, "I guess they have to drag me," and wrote after the game: "I just got kicked out of a WNBA game for the second time in a row for supporting WOMEN!"
Freedom was previously removed from a Chicago Sky game earlier this year. In August he declared for the 2027 WNBA draft, saying he identifies as a woman; Commissioner Cathy Engelbert has said he and Royce White are not eligible to play in the league.
Source: GSM · USA (original Chinese edition)
Photo: 亚特兰大State Farm Arena资料照片。图片：Warren LeMay，CC0，经Wikimedia Commons。 / State Farm Arena in Atlanta, file photo. Photo: Warren LeMay, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons.
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