WNBA says fans should have been free to wear shirts with messaging about transgender issue

Fans at a recent WNBA game in Atlanta were asked by security personnel to cover shirts featuring messages about transgender women participating in women's sports. According to a WNBA statement, "The WNBA is aware of interactions at Sunday night’s game in Atlanta in which fans were asked by league security to cover their shirts. This should not have happened."

The incident involved at least three fans wearing shirts with differing viewpoints: two opposed to restricting women's and girls' sports to those assigned female at birth, while one supported transgender individuals. The WNBA, despite having a collective bargaining agreement restricting participation to women, has not specified language regarding gender identity or sex assigned at birth.

Sophie Cunningham of the Indiana Fever previously expressed opposition to transgender girls and women competing in girls' and women's sports, leading to protests and a ban for Storm minority owner Celeste Keaton. The WNBA has reassured security personnel involved in the Atlanta game that they were wrong to request fans cover their messages. The Atlanta Dream also condemned the security personnel's actions, stating they strive for a safe and inclusive environment and were not involved in the decisions made by WNBA security.