Investigation into Enes Kanter Freedom’s Removal from Chicago Sky Game

The America First Policy Institute (AFPI) has initiated an investigation regarding the removal of Enes Kanter Freedom from a Chicago Sky game and his subsequent ban from Wintrust Arena. On Friday, the AFPI submitted a six-page public-records request to the Metropolitan Pier and Exposition Authority under the Illinois Freedom of Information Act. This request was on behalf of Freedom.

AFPI’s chief legal affairs officer, Leigh Ann O’Neill, stated, “Enes Freedom exercised his constitutional right as an American when he attended the WNBA game in Chicago. 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, a former basketball player, was involved in a verbal altercation with Natasha Cloud of the Chicago Sky during the second half of a game between the Chicago Sky and the Indiana Fever at Wintrust Arena on August 23, 2026. Freedom wore a shirt that read, “WOMAN noun. adult human female.” The incident began when Cloud approached Freedom’s courtside seat during a timeout in the third quarter, eventually leading to his ejection by security when he moved toward the court.

The AFPI’s investigation aims to uncover who is responsible for access, security, and operations at the publicly owned facility. The group has requested documents to clarify the agreements between the MPEA, arena operator Oak View Group, the Chicago Sky, and the WNBA. They are also seeking security policies, law-enforcement agreements, records on who authorized Freedom’s removal and ban, and documents on the arena’s federal funding receipt.

MPEA describes itself as a municipal corporation established by the Illinois General Assembly. Its board members are appointed by the governor and the mayor of Chicago. The authority owns the 10,000-seat Wintrust Arena, which operates in partnership with DePaul University.

The records request from AFPI does not in itself claim that Freedom’s constitutional rights were violated. Instead, it seeks documentation to determine whether the actions of the Sky or arena staff were influenced by a public entity. AFPI has asked the MPEA to preserve relevant emails, text messages, and internal communications while producing these records in phases. Currently, no lawsuit has been filed.

Jackson Thompson, a sports reporter for Fox News Digital, covers key political and cultural issues in sports. His reporting has been referenced in federal government actions concerning Title IX enforcement, and by prominent media outlets such as The New York Times, The Los Angeles Times, and ESPN.com.