‘She Should Be Protected at All Costs’ — Enes Kanter Reveals Text Message to ‘American Hero’ Sophie Cunningham After Ejection From Fever-Sky
· Yahoo Sports
Sunday’s Indiana Fever-Chicago Sky game turned tense when Enes Kanter and Sky guard Natasha Cloud were involved in a heated altercation during the third quarter. Security soon stepped in and escorted the former NBA center out of the arena.
After the incident, Kanter revealed the text exchange between him and Fever guard Sophie Cunningham.
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Enes Kanter Shares Sophie Cunningham Text After Wintrust Arena Ejection
Speaking to Fox News after the Indiana Fever’s 113-90 win over the Chicago Sky, Kanter was asked whether he had spoken with Cunningham about the events that unfolded during the game.
“I texted her after the game. I was like ‘Listen, please focus on your game because you are a national treasure.’ She is an American hero, and she should be protected at all costs because she is not only inspiring young girls in America, but all over the world,”Kanter said.
“So she is an idol. She is a hero. Please focus on your game and let all the outside talk don’t distract you.”
Kanter’s message came after Cunningham had previously spoken about the participation of trans athletes in women’s sports, a stance that has since placed her at the center of a wider debate.
In an ESPN interview published last month, Cunningham said young girls “shouldn’t have to go against biological men,” and her statement quickly drew strong reactions from different sides of the political debate.
The comments also led to public demonstrations, and the debate later became part of a social media campaign for Kanter, who has since announced plans to enter the 2027 WNBA Draft.
Nonetheless, Kanter’s support for Cunningham has remained clear since she first spoke about the issue.
Days before the Chicago game, Kanter discussed the support Cunningham has received from her fans. “First of all, I want to say she’s an American hero. Everywhere she goes, I see now a lot of people are coming out and actually defending her,” Kanter said.
That support was also visible during Sunday’s game, as the former Celtics center sat courtside and celebrated when Cunningham made a big play for Indiana.
Kanter later revealed his celebration appeared to draw Cloud’s attention. He explained that the heated exchange began after he reacted to Cunningham making a three-pointer.
“Sophie Cunningham shot a three, and I put my hands up to celebrate. Literally, a couple of possessions later, Natasha came back and started screaming and yelling…” he said.
As the two exchanged words, Kanter stepped toward Cloud before security stepped in and escorted him out.
For now, the possible repercussions of the in-game confrontation remain unclear, with Kanter insisting he intends to attend all of the Fever’s playoff games despite his ejection from Sunday’s clash.
This article originally appeared on Pro Football Network.