January 1, NBA Veteran Under Siege for Backing Biological Women in Sports

Wyatt’s Take

• Enes Kanter Freedom is catching death threats just for saying women should compete in women’s sports.
• Georgia officials and the FBI are stepping in to keep him safe at the WNBA Finals.
• Freedom refuses to back down and plans to cheer for real female athletes anyway.

Former NBA player Enes Kanter Freedom says he is working with the FBI after receiving thousands of death threats for his plan to attend Game 3 of the WNBA Finals in Atlanta.

The threats include warnings that he will be “the next Charlie Kirk.”

Freedom told OutKick he still plans to show up Wednesday night despite the danger and has arranged extra security for the trip back to a WNBA arena.

“So we are in touch with FBI. We have our own security,” Freedom said.

“We have a conversation with the governor and he’s providing us security as well. But we are in touch with FBI as well. There’s going to be a lot of FBI officers around the game, so, and they will be protecting us.”

A spokesperson from Gov. Brian Kemp’s office confirmed that the governor’s team has connected Freedom with the right law enforcement resources.

Freedom described receiving “thousands of death threats” after announcing his attendance. The exact number of threats and the full security plans have not been independently verified.

When asked about the worst message, Freedom pointed to one that warned he would be “the next Charlie Kirk.”

“Look, I’m just simply saying that I’m going to be attending the game,” he said. “My DMs are full of pictures and videos of the moment that Charlie Kirk got shot, and they’re saying that you’re going to be next very soon,” Freedom continued. “It’s a shame.”

Freedom also posted a video compilation on social media showing the threats he says he has received ahead of the Atlanta trip.

Game 3 tips off at 8 p.m. ET Wednesday at State Farm Arena with the best-of-seven series tied 1-1.

Freedom’s appearance comes while he fights the WNBA over its refusal to let biological men play in the league. He and former NBA player Royce White have announced plans to enter the 2027 draft while claiming to identify as women.

WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert made clear in an October 16 letter to Republican lawmakers that only biological women are eligible.

Freedom says his goal is an explicit rule based on biological sex. He points to Golden State Valkyries player Gabby Williams’ support for transgender participation as the spark for his effort.

“I’m going there to enjoy the game,” Freedom said of Wednesday’s plans. “I’m going there to support all these hardworking women, especially Gabby Williams and Angel Reese.”

His last WNBA outing ended with his ejection from an August 23 game in Chicago after a confrontation with Sky guard Natasha Cloud. The Sky later banned him from home games, and Freedom sued, claiming his First Amendment rights were violated.

Freedom says he did nothing wrong in Chicago and has no plans to escalate any situation in Atlanta.

“I’m going there to watch the game and I’m going there to support them, actually. So if a player gets in my face, I’m not planning to do anything,” he said. “I did not, and I’m not going to cross the baseline or the sideline.”

Freedom also noted that Angel Reese has blocked him on X despite the two never having spoken.

He still predicts an Atlanta win in Game 3 and the series.

“I think it’s going to be Atlanta,” he said. “I think they’re playing really good basketball.”

Freedom teased a shirt he plans to wear but kept the wording secret. At the Chicago game he wore a shirt that defined “woman” as an “adult human female.”

“We are not here to mock or make fun of anyone or any personal decision,” he said.

“Many people think that I’m going there to troll. No, I’m going there to support women, protect women, and make sure that I enjoy the game.”

Wyatt Matters

Middle America still believes women deserve their own sports and that threats and intimidation have no place in protecting that simple truth.