WNBA Star Receives Threatening Emails Amidst Finals

MINNEAPOLIS – Breanna Stewart, a prominent player in the WNBA and a two-time MVP, disclosed on Tuesday that her wife, Marta Xargay Casademont, received a threatening and anti-gay email subsequent to the New York Liberty‘s loss in Game 1 of the WNBA Finals. Stewart, speaking to reporters, asserted her family is taking “proper precautions” in response to the incident.

Stewart confirmed that both she and her wife have reported the threatening email, with Stewart notifying the Liberty and the league, while Xargay Casademont contacted the police. “For Marta, it was and is terrifying,” Stewart remarked, referring to the incident.

During Game 1, Stewart missed a crucial free throw that could have secured the lead for New York, and subsequently missed a layup at the end of overtime. Despite these events, the series is now tied 1-1 after a successful match in Brooklyn.

Stewart highlighted that alongside the threats, “there was some other things happening,” leading to continued threats after the initial game. “[The threat was] something that she couldn’t not see,” Stewart said, emphasizing the proximity and impact of the situation on her family.

The disturbances they faced, Stewart specified, raise significant concerns, particularly for their children, Ruby and Theo. “There’s another level of invasion happening there,” she noted, stressing that such tactics are “highly inappropriate and unacceptable.”

This episode arises as WNBA players increasingly report incidents of racist, misogynistic, and anti-gay behavior as the league’s popularity surges. Prominent players besides Stewart have reported receiving similar threatening communications.

“We love that people are engaged in our sport,” Stewart stated, “but not to the point where there’s threats or harassment or homophobic comments being made.” She commended the league’s response and underscored the importance of leveraging her platform to denounce such hostility.

A spokesperson for the WNBA reiterated there is “absolutely no room for hateful or threatening comments” underlining the league’s active collaboration with security and law enforcement.

WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert expressed concern over the recent threats against players, remarking on the league’s commitment to a “multidimensional” approach involving technology, mental health, physical security, and increased monitoring.

Engelbert assured, “We know there’s more work to be done, and as a league, we are fully committed to listening to the players and other stakeholders on this and other important issues.”

Stewart, advocating for proactive measures from the league, emphasized the necessity for clear protocols to prevent and address similar incidents effectively. “There needs to be a little bit of like a protocol or a thing before the season,” she added, underlining the growing frequency of such incidents.