MINNEAPOLIS — Following Game 1 of the WNBA Finals, Breanna Stewart, a prominent player for the New York Liberty, and her wife, Marta Xargay, received unsettling anonymous emails filled with homophobic threats. The messages were sent directly to Xargay’s email account, causing significant concern for the couple, as expressed by Stewart during a practice session on Tuesday.
Stewart highlighted the troubling nature of the threats, particularly because they reached her wife’s inbox. “The fact it came to Marta’s email is something she had to see. The level of closeness was a little bit different,” she noted. Protecting both their children and themselves has become a priority for the couple.
Despite her best efforts in Game 1, where she had a chance to seal the victory with free throws, Stewart missed one and failed to convert a potential tying layup as the game went into overtime, resulting in Minnesota clinching the game. With the series now tied at 1-1, attention shifts to Game 3, scheduled for Wednesday night in Minnesota.
After receiving the threatening emails, Stewart promptly notified her team, which escalated the situation to the league’s security personnel. “We’re taking the proper precautions. I think the threats continue to build after Game 1,” Stewart stated, emphasizing that while fan engagement in the sport is welcomed, it must never cross the line into threats or harassment of any kind.
The initial report regarding the threats was made by the New York Post. At the team’s and security’s recommendation, Xargay has also filed a police report. Stewart reinforced the necessity of taking formal action given the significant implications of the Finals.
Stewart typically avoids sifting through most correspondence she receives, as they are usually handled by her agency. However, after being informed by her wife about the hateful emails, she felt compelled to address the matter publicly. “For me to use this platform to let people know it’s unacceptable to bring this into our sport,” she remarked.
This season has seen a surge in online threats directed at players, particularly via social media and email channels. Commissioner Cathy Engelbert acknowledged this disturbing trend in her state-of-the-league address prior to Game 1, emphasizing that such behavior is intolerable. She committed to collaborating with the players’ union to devise strategies to combat these threats and support player mental health.
“We must continue to speak out against this, condemning it and ensuring we provide every opportunity to support our players, who have faced these issues for far longer than just this year,” Engelbert asserted.