{ "story_id": "f68e9c6306107e5ca8273f000b775878", "desk": "drm3", "revision": 1, "published_at": "2026-09-05T00:45:33.000Z", "content_hash": "9c65b9787861c070b2c486fc615adce972ba453acba10e569924782324723e10", "hash_basis": "sha256 over `headline\\ndek\\nprose`, plus `\\n` + the canonical citations JSON when any source is placed, plus `\\n#blog` for blogs", "basis": { "headline": "Chicago Sky owner calls Enes Kanter Freedom's free speech lawsuit 'meritless and frivolous'", "dek": "Chicago Sky owner Michael Alter called Enes Kanter Freedom's lawsuit meritless, saying he was removed for conduct, not speech.", "prose": "Chicago Sky owner Michael Alter said on 2026-09-04 that Enes Kanter Freedom's lawsuit is 'meritless and frivolous,' asserting that Freedom was removed from Wintrust Arena for violating fan code of conduct, not for his speech. [^1]\n\nEnes Kanter Freedom alleged that his First Amendment rights were violated when he was removed from a Sky home game on 2026-08-23 and banned from attending Sky games at the arena. [^2]\n\nEnes Kanter Freedom filed a 15-page lawsuit on 2026-09-03 in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois Eastern Division, naming the Chicago Sky, the city of Chicago, and the Metropolitan Pier and Exposition Authority, which owns Wintrust Arena, as defendants. [^3]\n\nChicago Sky principal owner Michael Alter released a statement on September 4, 2026, calling a lawsuit filed by former NBA player Enes Kanter Freedom meritless and frivolous. [^4]\n\nThe lawsuit alleges that Enes Kanter Freedom's First Amendment rights were violated after he was ejected from a WNBA game between the Chicago Sky and the Indiana Fever on August 23, 2026. [^5]\n\nAccording to Alter, security removed Enes Kanter Freedom only after he violated the fan code of conduct by rising from his seat, gesturing at a player, and stepping toward the court. [^6]\n\nThe Chicago Sky announced on September 2, 2026, that Enes Kanter Freedom would be banned from Wintrust Arena indefinitely. [^7]\n\nChicago Sky guard Natasha Cloud is named as a defendant in the suit, which alleges she initiated a vulgar, profanity-laced verbal tirade toward Kanter Freedom without provocation. [^8]\n\nEnes Kanter Freedom believes the attack was motivated by his shirt reading 'WOMAN noun. adult human female' and his views on protecting the integrity of women-only sports. [^9]\n\nChicago Sky owner Michael Alter issued a statement on Friday calling the lawsuit 'meritless and frivolous' and false regarding the reason for the ejection. [^10]\n\nKanter claims the ejection was retaliation for wearing a T-shirt defining the word 'woman' and for an altercation with Sky star Natasha Cloud. 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and Exposition Authority, which owns Wintrust Arena, as defendants.\",\"source\":\"ESPN\",\"instrument\":\"News\",\"claim_key\":null,\"published_at\":\"2026-09-04T21:39:08.000Z\",\"publisher_count\":1,\"sources\":[\"ESPN\"]},{\"statement\":\"Chicago Sky principal owner Michael Alter released a statement on September 4, 2026, calling a lawsuit filed by former NBA player Enes Kanter Freedom meritless and frivolous.\",\"source\":\"CBS Sports\",\"instrument\":\"News\",\"claim_key\":null,\"published_at\":\"2026-09-04T22:03:50.000Z\",\"publisher_count\":1,\"sources\":[\"CBS Sports\"]},{\"statement\":\"The lawsuit alleges that Enes Kanter Freedom's First Amendment rights were violated after he was ejected from a WNBA game between the Chicago Sky and the Indiana Fever on August 23, 2026.\",\"source\":\"Deadspin\",\"instrument\":\"News\",\"claim_key\":null,\"published_at\":\"2026-09-04T11:58:22.651Z\",\"publisher_count\":1,\"sources\":[\"Deadspin\"]},{\"statement\":\"According to Alter, security removed Enes Kanter Freedom only after he violated the fan code of conduct by rising from his seat, gesturing at a player, and stepping toward the court.\",\"source\":\"CBS Sports\",\"instrument\":\"News\",\"claim_key\":null,\"published_at\":\"2026-09-04T22:03:50.000Z\",\"publisher_count\":1,\"sources\":[\"CBS Sports\"]},{\"statement\":\"The Chicago Sky announced on September 2, 2026, that Enes Kanter Freedom would be banned from Wintrust Arena indefinitely.\",\"source\":\"CBS Sports\",\"instrument\":\"News\",\"claim_key\":null,\"published_at\":\"2026-09-04T22:03:50.000Z\",\"publisher_count\":1,\"sources\":[\"CBS Sports\"]},{\"statement\":\"Chicago Sky guard Natasha Cloud is named as a defendant in the suit, which alleges she initiated a vulgar, profanity-laced verbal tirade toward Kanter Freedom without 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"publisher_count": 1, "sources": [ "CBS Sports" ] }, { "statement": "The Chicago Sky announced on September 2, 2026, that Enes Kanter Freedom would be banned from Wintrust Arena indefinitely.", "source": "CBS Sports", "instrument": "News", "claim_key": null, "published_at": "2026-09-04T22:03:50.000Z", "publisher_count": 1, "sources": [ "CBS Sports" ] }, { "statement": "Chicago Sky guard Natasha Cloud is named as a defendant in the suit, which alleges she initiated a vulgar, profanity-laced verbal tirade toward Kanter Freedom without provocation.", "source": "Deadspin", "instrument": "News", "claim_key": null, "published_at": "2026-09-04T11:58:22.651Z", "publisher_count": 1, "sources": [ "Deadspin" ] }, { "statement": "Enes Kanter Freedom believes the attack was motivated by his shirt reading 'WOMAN noun. adult human female' and his views on protecting the integrity of women-only sports.", "source": "Deadspin", "instrument": "News", "claim_key": null, "published_at": "2026-09-04T11:58:22.651Z", "publisher_count": 1, "sources": [ "Deadspin" ] }, { "statement": "Chicago Sky owner Michael Alter issued a statement on Friday calling the lawsuit 'meritless and frivolous' and false regarding the reason for the ejection.", "source": "Daily Mail", "instrument": "News", "claim_key": null, "published_at": "2026-09-05T00:45:33.000Z", "publisher_count": 1, "sources": [ "Daily Mail" ] }, { "statement": "Kanter claims the ejection was retaliation for wearing a T-shirt defining the word 'woman' and for an altercation with Sky star Natasha Cloud.", "source": "Daily Mail", "instrument": "News", "claim_key": null, "published_at": "2026-09-05T00:45:33.000Z", "publisher_count": 1, "sources": [ "Daily Mail" ] } ], "note": "A signature proves who filed this and that it has not changed since. 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