Atlanta, Ga. – On August 16, Kasey Thomason and her teenage daughter, Annie, attended the Indiana Fever’s 95‑91 overtime win over the Atlanta Dream at State Farm Arena. The pair wore XX‑XY Athletics shirts supporting Fever guard Sophie Cunningham’s public stance on biological distinctions in women’s sports.
According to the Thomasons, the shirts were worn without incident for most of the game. During the overtime period, a security guard approached their seats and told them the shirts were considered offensive. The guard offered two options: put on a complimentary Atlanta Dream “Wellness & Health Night” shirt provided by arena staff, or leave the arena.
Thomason said the guard explained that other fans had been offended by the shirts. When she asked why, the guard did not cite any profanity, obscenity, or derogatory language, only that the shirts were “offensive.” The mother and daughter chose to wear the provided Dream shirts so they could remain for the final minutes of the game.
Video from the broadcast shows the pair holding the replacement shirts during overtime and putting them on with roughly 90 seconds left. Thomason said they had each paid about $1,000 for their tickets and attended specifically to support Cunningham and women’s sports.
The family believes a fan wearing a “Protect Trans Rights” shirt earlier in the game may have drawn security’s attention after that fan appeared on the arena’s video board. They do not know whether that fan faced the same request.
League policies and ongoing debate
State Farm Arena’s prohibited‑items policy bars clothing or signs that display explicit language, profanity, or derogatory characterizations toward people. The NBA Fan Code of Conduct similarly prohibits obscene or indecent messages on signs or apparel. The security guard, however, did not point to any specific prohibited language on the XX‑XY shirts.
The incident comes as the WNBA continues to examine its approach to transgender athlete participation. Commissioner Cathy Engelbert said a task force of team presidents and general managers will discuss the issue, emphasizing that eligibility rules are collectively bargained and that preserving competitive fairness remains a top priority. No immediate rule changes have been announced.
Earlier similar incident in Seattle
Last month, two 16‑year‑old girls wearing the same XX‑XY shirts were confronted by Seattle Storm minority co‑owner Celeste Keaton during a game at Climate Pledge Arena. Keaton allegedly called the girls “f—ing insane” and suggested they seek forgiveness for their “sin.” One teenager left in tears. Storm majority owner Ginny Gilder later apologized, and the league suspended Keaton from attending five Storm home games, imposing an undisclosed fine.
Both incidents highlight the growing tension between fans expressing support for biological‑based sports policies and arena policies aimed at preventing perceived offensiveness. The Thomasons maintain they did nothing beyond wearing a shirt they had purchased, and they question whether the request to cover the shirts infringed on their right to free expression.
Local perspective
For Atlanta residents, the episode raises questions about how venues balance fan expression with league guidelines. While the WNBA’s task force will continue to review eligibility rules, the immediate concern for fans like the Thomasons is whether they can attend games without being asked to conceal lawful apparel.
Original reporting: WBAP News/Talk (Dallas-Fort Worth) — read the source article.
