Former NBA player Enes Kanter Freedom has challenged Los Angeles Sparks player Cameron Brink after she described the transgender-athlete debate as a “non-issue” in the WNBA. The dispute follows Freedom’s ejection from a Chicago Sky game and subsequent arena ban, highlighting an increasingly public argument over eligibility rules in women’s sport and protest tactics at sporting events.

Freedom wore a shirt defining “woman” as an adult human female and became involved in a confrontation with Sky guard Natasha Cloud after stepping onto the court. The Sky banned the 34-year-old former centre from future games at Wintrust Arena, citing concerns he could pose a threat; Freedom said he would discuss the incident with Cloud but called for the WNBA’s collective bargaining agreement to specify “biological female”, and challenged Megan Rapinoe to a charity football match.