Former USWNT standout Megan Rapinoe recently addressed the latest developments in the WNBA on her podcast, "Why Are You Like This?", specifically focusing on the ejection of former NBA player Enes Kanter Freedom from a recent Chicago Sky-Indiana Fever game.
Rapinoe began her discussion by recounting the incident where Freedom was escorted out during the third quarter of the Sky's game against the Fever, an event that also involved Chicago Sky guard Natasha Cloud.
WNBA Game Ejection Sparks Controversy
The situation unfolded after Cloud scored a basket, prompting an Indiana Fever timeout. Following her score, Cloud directed comments towards Freedom, who was seated courtside near the basket at Wintrust Arena. The former NBA center then reportedly stood up and moved in Cloud's direction, leading to intervention from Sky players and arena security personnel. According to officials with the Chicago Sky, security and local police determined Freedom posed a threat, resulting in his removal from the arena and a subsequent ban from Wintrust Arena.
Freedom later shared his account of the exchange, alleging that Cloud told him, "She’s not gonna sleep with you." This remark, he stated, was in reference to Indiana Fever star Sophie Cunningham, who has drawn attention for her views on restricting biological men from competing in women's sports. Freedom recalled his response:
"I am not trying to sleep with her. I’m just here to protect women and support her. And then, obviously, after that she started yapping, and she started to walk towards me, and literally I just got up, and then I was like, 'I’m just here to protect women, and that’s all.'"
Rapinoe's Scathing Critique of "Protect Women" Stance
Upon learning of Freedom's comments, Rapinoe offered a sharply sarcastic critique. She began by addressing his claim of "protecting women":
"In fairness, you did warn us about men forcing their way into WNBA spaces. Lo and behold…Oh, you weren’t talking about yourself? OK. People who are 'trying to protect women.' First of all, from who? From who? It’s yourself. It’s a big mirror."
Rapinoe continued by suggesting that individuals expressing such sentiments are often the same ones who previously disparaged women's sports.
"Y’all are the same people who were, like, s----ing on the league and its athletes from before, saying it was bad business and no one cared. You’re the same people who were banning people from playing soccer in the 1950s. You’re the same type of people."
She further argued that this newfound interest in "protecting" women's sports stems from their growing success and popularity, rather than genuine concern.
"Oh, but now they care about it a lot, don’t they? Because they’re seeing the success and the power the league has, and they’re seeing how popular it is and seeing how everybody loves it and how lit of a space it is. So, now they really care. So, they are going to try and continue coming after the W and other women’s sports leagues and its athletes after seeing all the power they have."
Rapinoe characterized individuals like Freedom, who advocate for the exclusion of biological men from women's sports, as "bad-faith actors." She expressed concern that this stance has escalated beyond online discourse, now manifesting in physical presence at events.
"This is not the same old story of, ‘Well, this is just online, or it’s just trolls, it’s just bots. It’s not actually happening.’ No, it’s actually happening. They’re doing rallies before the game, they’re coming onto the court. They’re buying tickets. They’re in there — they’re not just trolls. They’re showing up in real life."
She asserted that their true aim is to undermine women and women's sports. Rapinoe articulated her desire for a future where female athletes can simply excel and receive due recognition and compensation, free from such distractions.
"They want a mechanism to continue tearing down women period and women’s sports. I hate that this is true and I desperately want for us to get to a place where women athletes can just be left alone and be great and be paid well. People can come and watch and just be respected. But that is clearly not where we are. The rise in women’s sports and the rise of the popularity in all these sports leagues, particularly the W, has come hand-in-hand with the rise of this hate and discrimination. It’s why it’s important for us as women athletes to continue to speak out about these issues and continue to do it together to show a united and collective fight."
A Call for Independent Success
Rapinoe concluded her remarks with a definitive statement:
"Let’s make one thing clear: we do not need men in the WNBA, or women’s sports in general, to make it successful."
This assertion carries a notable irony, as many proponents of keeping biological men out of women's sports often articulate a similar underlying sentiment: that the success and integrity of female athletics depend on maintaining separate categories.
Freedom Reiterates His Stance
For his part, Freedom has consistently affirmed his position as pro-women, clarifying that he is not anti-transgender. He stated previously:
"I am not anti-trans, I'm not anti-LGBTQ, I’m just pro-woman. In this country we have First Amendment, freedom of speech, right? And I simply went to the game with my shirt on."
