WNBA veteran Brianna Turner has alleged that the Indiana Fever organization encouraged players to remain silent after a male staff member was fired for sexual harassment during the 2025 season. Turner, a forward for the Las Vegas Aces, shared these claims on the social media platform X on Wednesday.
Turner, 28, stated that systemic issues such as sexism and harassment pose a more significant threat to female athletes than the inclusion of transgender athletes. She wrote on X, "An issue that has caused problems though? Last year on my WNBA team a male staff member was fired for sexual harassment, but we were encouraged to keep quiet about it. That is an issue. Sexism, misogyny, homophobia, and racism are all issues."
Her comments come in the context of recent remarks by her former Indiana teammate Sophie Cunningham, who expressed concerns about transgender athletes competing against biological females. Without directly naming Cunningham, Turner argued that the focus on transgender athletes is disproportionate to their presence in the league. She noted that in her eight years in the WNBA, there has been one openly transgender player who "caused zero problems."
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The Indiana Fever released a statement on Thursday addressing Turner's allegations. The organization affirmed its commitment to player safety and maintaining a respectful workplace, stating, "Our policy is to take concerns seriously, investigate thoroughly, and act promptly when appropriate to protect the people in our organization and ensure everyone is treated with professionalism and respect."
The team declined to comment on specific internal investigations or personnel matters involving former employees, citing the need to preserve "trust and safety" within their investigative processes. It is currently unclear if a formal police report was filed concerning the alleged sexual harassment incident.
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Turner, a two-time selection to the WNBA All-Defensive First Team, played for the Phoenix Mercury before joining the Las Vegas Aces this season after her one-year tenure with the Fever.