Mother and Daughter Ordered to Change Shirts at WNBA Game After Fan Complaint

A confrontation during Sunday’s WNBA matchup between the Indiana Fever and Atlanta Dream at State Farm Arena has reignited discussions about fan conduct and acceptable apparel at professional sporting events. Mother-and-daughter pair Kasey and Annie Thomason, both Georgia residents seated two rows behind the court, were approached by security roughly midway through overtime after wearing XX-XY Athletics T-shirts designed to promote women’s sports advocacy.

The security guard informed the pair that other attendees had taken offense to their clothing and presented them with an ultimatum: change into provided Atlanta Dream “Wellness & Health Night” shirts or leave the venue. Kasey Thomason questioned whether “biology and science” constituted an offensive message before reluctantly complying to watch the final moments of the Fever’s 95-91 victory. ESPN broadcast footage captured the family wearing the Dream-provided tan shirts during the game’s conclusion.

According to State Farm Arena’s prohibited items policy, apparel displaying “explicit language, profanity or derogatory characterization towards any person(s)” is banned, though security did not cite these specific grounds when approaching the Thomasons. The family later suggested that a separate spectator wearing a “Protect Trans Rights” shirt, who had been featured on the video board earlier, may have prompted the intervention.

The incident occurs less than a month after Seattle Storm co-owner Celeste Keaton verbally confronted teenagers wearing similar XX-XY Athletics apparel courtside, an exchange that resulted in a five-game suspension and undisclosed fine for Keaton. The Atlanta Dream did not respond to requests for comment regarding Sunday’s encounter.