In a fresh twist, Enes Kanter Freedom is doubling down on his claim that his August 23 removal from Wintrust Arena was illegal and has now filed a lawsuit against several parties he holds responsible. Kanter Freedom’s legal representative has issued a strong statement on this issue, and the complicated matter continues to entangle the basketball community.

“Government doesn’t get to silence speech it doesn’t like—by ejecting the speaker or banning the viewpoint. That’s why we’re suing on behalf of @EnesFreedom,” read the post on X by Leigh Ann O’Neill, who is the Chief Legal Affairs Officer at the America First Policy Institute.

Kanter Freedom has now filed a 15-page complaint in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, naming the City of Chicago, the Metropolitan Pier and Exposition Authority, and Chicago Women’s Basketball Operations. He is seeking a jury trial, demanding an injunction and relief for damages.

Confirming his legal action via a post on social media, Kanter Freedom wrote:

“See you in court! Just filed a federal complaint. I’m taking legal action over my ejection from the Chicago Sky game while peacefully exercising my First Amendment rights. My T-shirt did what the whole WNBA apparently couldn’t: define a woman.

“No threats. No violence. Just biology. And somehow, that required a security escort. You don’t have to agree with my speech, but you don’t get to silence me for it. I will not be intimidated. I will not be silenced.”

The lawsuit opens by stating that Enes Kanter Freedom frequently advocates publicly for protecting the integrity of women’s sports. It further notes that he has declared himself eligible to play in the WNBA, arguing that his self-identification meets all current league regulations and collective bargaining agreement criteria.

The catalyst for the lawsuit occurred during an August 23 matchup at Wintrust Arena in which the Indiana Fever beat the Sky 113–90. Freedom watched courtside wearing a black shirt that read, “WOMAN noun. adult human female.”

During a late third-quarter timeout, Sky guard Natasha Cloud pointed at Freedom, and a heated exchange followed between the two. As Freedom stood with open arms and took a few steps toward the playing surface, security quickly interceded and escorted him out. Teammates and staff held Cloud back.

Two days later, Chicago Sky owner Michael Alter banned Kanter Freedom from the arena, citing that Freedom displayed “potential to be a threat.”

However, Kanter Freedom’s version of events was different. In an interview with Fox News the next evening, he explained that his attendance was motivated by his love for basketball and a desire to show support for Fever guard Sophie Cunningham—who told ESPN in July that biological males should be banned from the league. In response, the Sky issued a public statement claiming that elements of his narrative were inaccurate.

By naming both the city and the Metropolitan Pier and Exposition Authority—the public entity overseeing the McCormick Place complex and Wintrust Arena—the lawsuit by Kanter Freedom introduces a government actor into the case. Consequently, the central battle determining the lawsuit’s ultimate reach will likely hinge on whether the security measures taken that evening legally qualify as government action.

However, while the MPEA declined to comment directly on the ongoing litigation, they did issue a statement, per Front Office Sports, which reads, in part:

“The agreement between MPEA and the Chicago Sky gives the Chicago Sky uninterrupted exclusive access to and from the arena, including ingress and egress, on days of Chicago Sky games. Accordingly, the Chicago Sky controls whether any individual, including Enes Freedom, may access Wintrust Arena on Chicago Sky game days.

“The Chicago Sky informed MPEA that Enes Freedom was removed from the arena and banned from future Chicago Sky events because he violated rules imposed by the WNBA. MPEA employees were not involved in those decisions.”

As of Thursday, the WNBA or the Chicago Sky management has yet to respond to this complaint by Kanter Freedom.