Martina Navratilova defends Enes Kanter Freedom after his ejection: “It’s shameful… Is ‘woman’ now a dirty word?”

M artina Navratilova has entered the growing controversy surrounding Enes Kanter Freedom ’s ejection from a WNBA game, questioning the reaction to the former NBA player after his confrontation with Chicago Sky guard Natasha Cloud .

Freedom was removed from Wintrust Arena during Sunday’s Indiana Fever-Chicago Sky matchup after an increasingly heated exchange with Cloud late in the third quarter.

The former NBA center had been sitting courtside wearing a black shirt featuring the words “WOMAN noun. adult human female,” amid his increasingly vocal criticism of transgender participation in women’s sports.

According to footage from the incident, Cloud approached Freedom after scoring a basket and began pointing and shouting in his direction.

Freedom stood up and moved toward the court before security personnel and several Sky players intervened. He was subsequently escorted from the arena.

The incident quickly became another flashpoint in a debate that has moved beyond the basketball court. Navratilova , one of the most prominent athletes to speak publicly about transgender participation in women's sports, reacted to the situation on social media.

“Disgraceful- woman is apparently a bad word now???” Navratilova wrote.

Her intervention adds another high-profile voice to a dispute that has already drawn players, former athletes, politicians and commentators into opposing camps.

Navratilova’s stance adds another layer to the WNBA dispute

Navratilova has previously argued that protecting women's competitive opportunities and maintaining separate women's sporting categories are important.

Her latest comments come as the WNBA finds itself dealing with an increasingly public argument over transgender participation.

Freedom has deliberately placed himself at the center of that discussion. Earlier this month, he announced plans to enter the 2027 WNBA Draft, presenting his move as a challenge to the league's approach to eligibility.

Former NBA player Royce White has made a similar declaration. However, reports from Reuters said sources had determined that the pair would not be eligible to participate in the draft.

Freedom has disputed reports that he has been ruled ineligible, calling them “fake news” and saying he had not received direct communication from the WNBA.

His appearance at the Fever-Sky game therefore carried an obvious political and cultural dimension.

The shirt he wore was particularly notable given the circumstances, while his public support for Indiana player Sophie Cunningham has also connected him to the wider argument over gender eligibility.

The confrontation with Cloud intensified the situation. Cloud did not address reporters after the game, but later posted a message supporting the transgender community. Her statement said trans people belong, are loved and should be protected.

Sky coach Tyler Marsh subsequently defended Cloud, saying she was someone who protects her team and people who need protection. He also urged fans to attend games to enjoy the basketball.

The game itself ultimately became secondary to the controversy. Indiana won 113-90, with Caitlin Clark scoring 37 points and Kelsey Mitchell adding 30, while Chicago's defeat eliminated the Sky from playoff contention.

For Navratilova , however, the argument represents something larger than one courtside confrontation. Her response shows how strongly she believes language surrounding women and women's sport should remain part of the public conversation.

The episode also illustrates the difficult position the WNBA now faces. Questions about gender eligibility, inclusion and competitive fairness are increasingly being discussed alongside games themselves, while league officials attempt to navigate a politically charged subject.

Freedom's ejection, Navratilova's reaction and Cloud's subsequent message have ensured that the debate will continue long after the final score in Chicago.