WNBA Fans Threatened With Ejection Over XX-XY Athletics Shirts
RightRigor 548 sources
The Story
Kasey Thomason and her daughter Annie recalled on Monday being threatened with ejection from a WNBA game between the Indiana Fever and Atlanta Dream if they refused to cover their XX-XY Athletics shirts. A security guard at State Farm Arena in Atlanta approached them, asking them to change their shirts in favor of a Dream T-shirt. Kasey stated the guard did not know what was offensive about the shirts but indicated someone had reported them. Annie expressed she was flabbergasted by the experience. The WNBA released a statement on Monday, acknowledging the incident and stating, "This should not have happened." However, Annie said the statement did not make her feel better and believed such incidents would recur. The mother and daughter were attending the game to support Indiana Fever guard Sophie Cunningham, who has publicly stated that girls' sports should be for girls only. A woman seated two rows ahead, wearing a "Protect Trans Kids" shirt, reportedly pointed at them and spoke to security. Kasey wore a red, white, and blue XX-XY Athletics logo tee, while Annie wore a Riley Gaines collaborative piece featuring "XX" on the front and "For the Girls" on the back. They were offered free "Wellness Night" tees and complied with the request to cover their shirts to avoid ejection and see the end of the game. The Atlanta Dream also issued a statement, indicating that WNBA security actions fell short of that standard and that Dream personnel were not involved in the decisions. Sophie Cunningham has clarified her stance, stating she aims to protect young girls in sports and locker rooms from competing against biological men. This incident follows a July 28 event in Seattle where two fans wearing XX-XY tees were confronted by Seattle Storm co-owner Celeste Keaton, resulting in Keaton's five-game suspension. A 2025 New York Times/Ipsos survey found 79% of Americans, including 67% of Democrats, do not believe transgender athletes should compete in women's sports.
The Spread
Right
What they agree on
- Kasey Thomason and her daughter Annie were threatened with ejection from a WNBA game for wearing XX-XY Athletics shirts.
- A security guard at State Farm Arena in Atlanta asked them to cover their shirts.
- The WNBA released a statement saying the incident "should not have happened."
- The mother and daughter were supporting Indiana Fever guard Sophie Cunningham, who advocates for girls' sports to be for girls only.
- The Atlanta Dream stated that WNBA security actions "fell short of that standard" and Dream personnel were not involved.
Where they split
- Fox News includes Annie Thomason's reaction that the WNBA's statement did not make her feel better and her belief that the incident will happen again.
- The Daily Wire provides context by detailing a previous incident in Seattle involving Seattle Storm co-owner Celeste Keaton and mentions Riley Gaines and Jennifer Sey wearing similar shirts.
- Breitbart News highlights Sophie Cunningham's specific comments about protecting young girls in sports from biological men.
- Hot Air notes that a "Protect Trans Rights" shirt was featured on the Jumbotron during the game and mentions the Atlanta Dream's refusal to stand for the National Anthem.
Source Perspectives
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