Breanna Stewart urges a safe space as transgender debate sparks rallies at Fever games

New York Liberty player Breanna Stewart has long viewed the WNBA as a welcoming and inclusive environment for both its supporters and athletes. However, this perception is now being tested due to ongoing debates surrounding transgender athletes in women's sports. To date, no transgender woman has ever played in the WNBA. The league’s collective bargaining agreement states that it only allows women to participate, without specifying details about gender identity or sex assigned at birth.

Recent rallies and protests have taken place outside Indiana Fever games following the controversy. Sophie Cunningham, a Fever player, expressed her opposition to transgender girls and women competing in girls’ and women’s sports in an ESPN profile last month. Stewart addressed this issue in an interview with reporters, emphasizing the importance of maintaining a safe atmosphere for fans and players alike.

She specifically called out Liberty and Indiana fans who may attend the upcoming game in Brooklyn, urging them to ensure the arena remains a welcoming space for everyone. During the recent game in Atlanta, three fans were reprimanded by WNBA security for wearing shirts with messages supporting transgender women in sports, despite the league stating that they should have been allowed to wear them.

Stewart reiterated her belief that Liberty fans, as well as WNBA supporters in general, attend games to express themselves and maintain the freedom to be themselves.