A mother and her teenage daughter stated they were compelled by security to cover their "XX-XY" t-shirts during a WNBA game between the Indiana Fever and the Atlanta Dream on Sunday night, or face removal from the arena. The pair, identified as Kasey Thomason and her 17-year-old daughter Annie, were attending the Fever's 97-91 victory at Gateway Center Arena in Atlanta.
According to the mother, security personnel informed them that their shirts were "offensive" and offered them "Wellness Night" Dream t-shirts as an alternative. "We were made to cover up our XX-XY shirts at this game," Thomason told a fellow fan outside the arena. "They gave us t-shirts during overtime and told us we had to leave or cover our shirts up. This just happened."
The duo said they had paid $1,000 each for their tickets and were there to support women in sports. Thomason indicated that she believed a fan who was featured on the Jumbotron wearing a "Protect Trans Rights" shirt had reported them to security, which Thomason disputed as unfair.
The incident occurs amid an ongoing debate within the WNBA regarding transgender athletes. Indiana Fever player Sophie Cunningham recently voiced her desire to "protect young girls" from "biological men," a statement that has drawn public attention and led to rallies at games she attends.
In response to the growing discussion, the WNBA established an anti-hate task force comprising general managers and presidents. The league stated that its review found "no immediate eligibility matters affecting" the league. A WNBA spokesperson commented, "We strongly denounce the bad-faith efforts to use these topics to demean or marginalize others."
WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert has also addressed the issue, stating in a memo that the league will "always approach this topic thoughtfully, respectfully, and in alignment with the longstanding values of our league." She further noted that player eligibility rules are collectively bargained, distinguishing the WNBA's approach from that of some other sports organizations.