WNBA says fans should not have been asked to cover shirts at Atlanta game
The league acknowledged that security staff improperly asked two fans to conceal their XX-XY shirts during a Fever-Dream game in Atlanta, and said the incident should not have occurred.
Security personnel at State Farm Arena asked a mother and her daughter to cover the XX-XY shirts they were wearing during the Indiana Fever’s win over the Atlanta Dream on Aug. 17. The fans, Kasey Thomason and her daughter Annie, were handed replacement shirts and told to either leave or hide their original shirts, a scene captured on video and shared on social media.
The WNBA said in a statement that it was aware of the incident and that “this should not have happened.” The Atlanta Dream added that it strives for a safe, inclusive environment and that its staff were not involved in the security decision.
XX-XY, a brand founded by former gymnast and Levi Strauss executive Jennifer Sey, promotes “protecting women’s sports and spaces” and has organized rallies supporting Fever forward Sophie Cunningham, who has voiced concerns about transgender athletes in women’s sports. The incident follows a recent disciplinary action against Seattle Storm co-owner Celeste Keaton for confronting fans wearing XX-XY shirts.
The league and the Women’s National Basketball Players Association have both issued statements denouncing transphobia and hate, emphasizing that no eligibility issues currently affect the WNBA.