08/22/26 02:29:00
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08/22 14:27 CDT Breanna Stewart wants a safe space as transgender debate sparks
rallies at Fever games
Breanna Stewart wants a safe space as transgender debate sparks rallies at
Fever games
By DOUG FEINBERG
AP Basketball Writer
NEW YORK (AP) --- New York Liberty star Breanna Stewart has always seen the
WNBA as an inclusive place that has served as a safe space for both its fans
and the players. That's been challenged lately.
The WNBA has been the subject of recent debates on whether transgender women
--- people assigned male at birth who transition to align with their gender
identity --- should be allowed to participate in the league. There has never
been such a player in the WNBA. Although the league's collective bargaining
agreement says the WNBA is restricted to women, it contains no more specific
language about gender identity or sex assigned at birth.
There have been small rallies and protests outside Indiana Fever games after
the issue came to a head when Sophie Cunningham of the Fever said in an ESPN
profile published last month that she was opposed to transgender girls and
women competing in girls' and women's sports. There are rallies planned before
the Liberty face the Fever on Saturday night in Brooklyn.
"Knowing that rallies are happening on both sides shows the platform that the W
has and the stunts for attention are just continuing to try and ride the wave
that we have," Stewart told a small group of reporters Saturday morning. "I
want Liberty fans and even Indy fans that are going to come here tonight to be
able to have this arena be a safe space."
At least three fans were asked by WNBA security personnel to cover shirts that
had messages about transgender women participating in women's sports during
last Sunday's game at Atlanta between the Dream and the Fever. The league later
said the fans should have been free to wear those shirts.
Stewart said Liberty fans specifically, but WNBA fans in general, come to games
because "they can feel like they can be themselves in whatever capacity that is
and we don't want to lose sight of that."
The Liberty forward said everyone is entitled to their own opinion and if that
stops being allowed there are much bigger issues. However, she said, trying to
divide teams and players shouldn't be tolerated.
"If we don't allow (free speech), we need to like really kind of go back and
look at more things. I think the bigger thing is people are trying to divide us
as teams, but also as teammates or as opponents," she said. "This league is
incredibly inclusive and what we continue to fight for and stand up against.
So, we don't want to take that platform away."
Stewart has been an ally for the transgender community during her career. She
faced some online backlash last year when one of her signature shoes had a
Harry Potter theme to it. Stewart is a huge fan of the Harry Potter books and
subsequent movies by author J.K. Rowlings, who has drawn criticism for her
anti-trans stance.
Stewart has donated royalties from that shoe to The Trevor Project, a suicide
prevention and crisis intervention nonprofit organization for LGBTQ+ youth.
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See AP's full WNBA coverage here
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