Chicago Sky principal owner Michael Alter issued a statement on Friday, characterizing the lawsuit filed by former NBA player Enes Kanter Freedom as "meritless and frivolous." The suit, lodged on Thursday, claims that Kanter Freedom's First Amendment rights were violated during his ejection from the Chicago Sky's game against the Indiana Fever on August 23. The lawsuit names the Sky, the city of Chicago, and the Metropolitan Pier and Exposition Authority as defendants.

Alter's statement emphasized the following points:

• He refuted Freedom's assertion that his removal was due to his speech, noting that Freedom wore the controversial shirt for hours without incident.
• Security intervened after Freedom violated the fan code of conduct by rising from his seat, gesturing at a player, and advancing towards the court.
• The removal was based on his conduct, not his expression.

The incident escalated during the third quarter when Kanter Freedom, wearing a shirt stating "woman noun. adult human female," engaged in a verbal altercation with Sky guard Natasha Cloud. Security escorted him from his seat after he attempted to approach the court.

Subsequently, the Sky announced his indefinite ban from Wintrust Arena, with Alter stating, "He has demonstrated to us, unequivocally, that he has the potential to be a threat."

As the discussion around transgender athletes continues, Kanter Freedom and fellow former NBA player Royce White declared their eligibility to play in the WNBA. However, sources within the league indicated that they view this declaration as a publicity stunt, dismissing any legitimacy in their claims.