Enes Freedom directed to private suite for WNBA Finals amid safety concerns, won’t be allowed to sit courtside

Former NBA player Enes Kanter Freedom was turned away from Game 3 of the WNBA Finals after refusing arena officials’ direction to watch from a private suite. The dispute matters because the arena said the arrangement was made in response to safety concerns Freedom had raised, while he said he was being excluded because of his advocacy.

Freedom said he had bought thousands of dollars’ worth of tickets and wanted to use his seats, rejecting both the suite and an offered refund. Officials cited his stated security concerns and his ejection from an earlier WNBA game; the suite would have had extra security. He had previously said he received threats and contacted authorities, but later denied having safety concerns. He eventually left the arena and accused the NBA and WNBA of discrimination.