Overview
- The dispute began on Aug. 23 when Kanter, seated courtside at a Chicago Sky game, wore a shirt reading “WOMAN noun. adult human female,” got into a verbal confrontation with Sky guard Natasha Cloud, stood up and stepped toward the court before security escorted him out.
- The Sky announced an indefinite ban on Kanter later in August, with team owner Michael Alter saying security removed him for rising, gesturing at a player and stepping past the baseline because he posed a potential threat.
- Kanter filed a 15‑page federal complaint in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois this week, naming Chicago Women’s Basketball Operations LLC, the Metropolitan Pier and Exposition Authority and the City of Chicago and seeking to lift the ban and recover damages.
- The lawsuit alleges the team, arena security and Chicago police conspired to retaliate against his protected speech; the Sky has called the complaint meritless and says the ejection was based on conduct not viewpoint.
- The case connects to a broader fight over the WNBA’s gender‑eligibility language, could test when private actions become state action for First Amendment claims, and may influence future league policy and union bargaining.