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The WNBA acknowledged Monday that its security personnel acted inappropriately when they required a mother and teenage daughter to cover their XX-XY Athletics apparel during Sunday’s matchup between the Indiana Fever and Atlanta Dream. A league spokesperson stated that the incident, in which fans were instructed by security to conceal their shirts, should not have occurred and confirmed the league’s awareness of the situation.
Georgia resident Kasey Thomason and her 17-year-old daughter Annie were seated courtside at State Farm Arena during Indiana’s 95-91 overtime victory when security personnel approached them and demanded they either cover their garments or face ejection. The pair had worn the XX-XY Athletics shirts throughout the first four quarters without incident, prompting speculation that a nearby spectator had lodged a complaint that triggered the confrontation during the extra period.
The XX-XY Athletics brand has become associated with the ongoing debate over transgender participation in women’s sports, particularly following Fever guard Sophie Cunningham’s recent public statements advocating for biological sex-based eligibility standards in women’s athletics. The shirts represent a flashpoint in discussions about the future direction of women’s sports policy.
This marks the second documented incident involving league-affiliated personnel confronting fans wearing the shirts. Less than three weeks prior, Seattle Storm minority co-owner Celeste Keaton engaged with two teenage girls displaying similar apparel at a Fever-Storm game, leading the Storm to issue an apology and the WNBA to fine Keaton an undisclosed sum and suspend her from five home games.
State Farm Arena prohibits clothing bearing explicit language or derogatory characterizations, according to facility policy, though security did not cite any specific policy violation when directing the Thomasons to cover their shirts. The WNBA has not yet responded to inquiries regarding the specific rationale for the security decision or whether an investigation into the incident is underway.
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