America First Policy Institute Investigates Enes Kanter Freedom’s Ban from Wintrust Arena
The America First Policy Institute (AFPI) has initiated an inquiry into the exclusion of Enes Kanter Freedom from a Chicago Sky game, which led to his subsequent prohibition from entering Wintrust Arena. On Friday, AFPI submitted a six-page public-records request to the Metropolitan Pier and Exposition Authority, the government body responsible for the arena’s ownership. This request was made on Freedom’s behalf under the Illinois Freedom of Information Act.
Enes Freedom exercised his constitutional right as an American when he attended the WNBA game in Chicago,
stated Leigh Ann O’Neill, AFPI’s chief legal affairs officer. Today, we launched an investigation, seeking critical documents that will assist in our efforts to ensure that public entities are held accountable when American’s constitutional rights are trampled.
ENES KANTER FREEDOM EJECTED FROM SKY-FEVER GAME AFTER VERBAL ALTERCATION WITH NATASHA CLOUD
Enes Kanter Freedom, a former basketball player, was involved in a verbal altercation with Natasha Cloud during the second half of the game between the Chicago Sky and the Indiana Fever at Wintrust Arena on August 23, 2026. Freedom attended the game wearing a shirt with the words, WOMAN noun. adult human female. During a third-quarter timeout, Sky guard Natasha Cloud confronted Freedom at his courtside seat, sparking a verbal dispute. Security soon intervened, escorting Freedom out of the arena after he moved towards the court.
AFPI’s records request aims to uncover who is responsible for managing access, security, and event operations at the publicly owned Wintrust Arena. The request includes documentation of agreements between the Metropolitan Pier and Exposition Authority (MPEA), arena operator Oak View Group, the Chicago Sky, and the WNBA. It also seeks security policies, law-enforcement agreements, information on who authorized Freedom’s removal and ban, and details regarding the arena’s receipt of federal funding.
ENES KANTER FREEDOM SENDS LETTER TO WNBA REQUESTING REVIEW OF SKY EJECTION INCIDENT, FULL TICKET REFUND
The Metropolitan Pier and Exposition Authority, described as a municipal corporation established by the Illinois General Assembly, is led by a board appointed by Illinois’ governor and Chicago’s mayor. It owns the 10,000-seat Wintrust Arena, which operates through a partnership with DePaul University.
The records request does not definitively claim a violation of Freedom’s constitutional rights. AFPI seeks documents to assess whether actions taken by the Sky or arena staff could be linked to a public entity. AFPI has requested that MPEA preserve emails, text messages, and internal communications while providing records incrementally. No lawsuit has been initiated.
Contact OutKick has been made to the MPEA and the Chicago Sky for their comments.
Jackson Thompson is a sports reporter for Fox News Digital. His coverage explores critical political and cultural aspects within sports, with an investigative approach. His reporting has been referenced in federal government actions concerning Title IX enforcement and in major publications such as The New York Times and The Los Angeles Times, along with others.