WNBA Star Breanna Stewart Condemns Homophobic Email Threat to Her Wife

Breanna Stewart, a star player for the New York Liberty, has spoken out after her wife, Marta Xargay Casademont, received a disturbing, homophobic email. The message, which followed the Liberty’s Game 1 loss in the WNBA Finals, contained violent threats directed at Xargay. Stewart condemned the attack as “unacceptable” in a public statement, and the couple reported the email to New York police for further investigation.

This incident is a stark reminder of the darker side of the WNBA’s growing popularity. As the league has seen a surge in viewership and media attention, players are facing an increasing wave of online hate, with some individuals going beyond social media abuse to send explicit threats.

The Impact of Increased Attention

Sue Bird, a WNBA legend, recently shared her thoughts on this rise in hate during her A Touch More podcast. She pointed out that racism and hate have long been an issue in the WNBA, but the recent attention on the league has brought these problems to the forefront. While the league’s success is a victory for women’s basketball, it has also amplified existing issues, including hate speech and threats.

A Call for Action

The WNBA has a zero-tolerance policy for threats and derogatory comments, stating its commitment to monitoring and addressing harmful activity. However, with players continuing to face hostility, many are calling for stronger actions from league officials to protect their players and create a safer environment for all involved in the sport.