Enes Kanter Freedom, a former NBA player known for his outspoken opposition to transgender athletes competing in women’s sports, said he was removed from the arena during Game 3 of the WNBA Finals after declining to use a suite the Atlanta Dream had assigned to him for safety reasons.

Freedom shared his account in a video posted on X on Wednesday. The Atlanta Dream issued a statement earlier that day explaining that Freedom had contacted federal, state, and local law enforcement, as well as league officials, prior to the game to express concerns about his safety. The team said relocating him to a suite was intended to ensure a “safe and positive experience” for him and other attendees.

The Dream also said additional security personnel were assigned to the suite, and at Freedom’s request, a state police officer was stationed there for protection. In the video, Freedom is seen asking to sit in the seats he had purchased instead.

According to the recording, an arena employee told Freedom that before entering he had to agree to use the suite. Freedom responded that he had bought tickets and wanted to sit in his assigned seat. After some exchange, an officer is heard listing areas where Freedom could be seated but ultimately says, “He just can’t be here.” Freedom then leaves the arena, stating, “They kicked me out of the game for supporting women.”

A representative for the Dream said Freedom was welcome to return at any time, provided he agreed to sit in the suite.

This is not Freedom’s first incident at a WNBA game. In August, he was ejected from a Chicago Sky game after wearing a shirt with the phrase “WOMAN noun adult human female” and engaging in a verbal confrontation with Sky guard Natasha Cloud. The Sky later banned him from their home arena.

Brian Tranquill, the Dream’s president of basketball operations, described the situation as “tragic” and said it resulted in unfortunate statements. He emphasized the team’s support for every athlete’s right to express their identity and reaffirmed its opposition to rhetoric that is hateful or divisive toward transgender individuals or any group. Tranquill added that the organization remains committed to diversity and inclusion.