Chicago Sky principal owner Michael Alter defended the decision to eject and ban former NBA player Enes Kanter Freedom from Wintrust Arena during a game against the Indiana Fever. Alter said Freedom became a potential threat when he moved towards the court, arguing that some conduct does not merit a prior warning; the dispute matters because Freedom has challenged the ban and raised concerns about how he was treated.

Alter compared the lack of warning to responding to someone shooting a gun, while acknowledging he did not know whether Freedom actually stepped onto the court. Video reportedly shows Freedom moving towards the court before security stopped him, and WNBA rules allow immediate ejection for attempted court entry. Freedom says the incident began after an exchange with Sky player Natasha Cloud, but Alter said witnesses told him Freedom initiated basketball-related trash talk and that the team found no rule breach by Cloud.