The New York Liberty are facing accusations of censorship after allegedly altering a fan's intended scoreboard message supporting XX-XY Athletics, a brand focused on women's sports. The incident occurred during the Liberty's game against the Indiana Fever at Barclays Center.
Julie Potter, a hip hop artist who identified as lesbian, stated that she and a group purchased over $2,000 worth of tickets for the game to support Sophie Cunningham. Cunningham has been at the center of controversy for comments she made about protecting women's sports from 'biological men.'
Potter reportedly paid $100 for a scoreboard message that read: 'Thank you Jennifer Sey! XX-XY Athletics will Save the Day!!' Jennifer Sey is the founder of XX-XY Athletics, a brand that advocates for women's sports.
According to Potter, the Liberty initially approved the message and accepted her payment. However, she claims the team contacted her the day before the game to inform her that the message had been changed to: 'Thank you Jennifer Sey, thank you for all you do for XX-XY Athletics.'
Potter told Outkick, an outlet that reported on the incident, that she requested either the original message be displayed or her money be refunded. The Liberty reportedly offered a refund, explaining that scoreboard messages are intended for "positive, celebratory content" and that submissions violating that spirit were not eligible.
Potter countered that the team's actions constituted censorship, stating, "My message was approved and payment was accepted. You then changed it without giving me any opportunity to revise or respond... why would I pay to let you speak for me?" She added that she deliberately avoided using Cunningham's name to prevent the message from being perceived as provocative.
The WNBA has been a focal point for cultural discussions. WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert recently commented on the situation, suggesting that some individuals are attempting to use the league to "sow divisiveness." She noted that the league is sometimes targeted by people unfamiliar with its audience and product.
Cunningham's remarks have drawn significant attention and backlash, with some coaches and fans demonstrating in response. At a recent game, fans wearing T-shirts supporting Cunningham's stance were reportedly asked to cover them by security, an incident the WNBA later acknowledged should not have happened.
Engelbert has faced criticism for her management of these issues. She stated that "there's always going to be haters out there and we denounce it. The vitriol has got to stop against our players." The commissioner attributed some of the increased attention to the WNBA's growing presence as a "legitimate sports media and entertainment product."