Liberty star Breanna Stewart calls for safe arena amid transgender participation debate
WNBA player Breanna Stewart urged fans to keep the Brooklyn arena a safe space as rallies over transgender athletes are planned for the upcoming Liberty-Fever game.
New York Liberty forward Breanna Stewart said she wants the arena to remain a safe space for fans as protests over transgender participation in women’s sports are scheduled before the team’s game against the Indiana Fever on Saturday night in Brooklyn. The issue has intensified after Fever guard Sophie Cunningham expressed opposition to transgender girls and women competing in female sports in an ESPN profile, prompting small rallies outside Fever games.
Stewart told reporters that the presence of rallies on both sides highlights the league’s visibility, and she hopes fans of both teams can attend without intimidation. She emphasized that WNBA supporters attend games because they feel they can be themselves, and that limiting free expression could lead to broader concerns.
The league previously asked three spectators at an Atlanta game to cover shirts supporting transgender athletes, later acknowledging the fans should have been allowed to wear them. Stewart, who has supported LGBTQ+ causes and donated royalties from a signature shoe to The Trevor Project, reiterated the league’s commitment to inclusivity and warned against attempts to divide teams or players.