On August 16, Kasey Thomason and her 17‑year‑old daughter, Annie, attended the Indiana Fever’s 95‑91 overtime win over the Atlanta Dream at State Farm Arena in Atlanta, Georgia. The pair wore XX‑XY Athletics shirts supporting Fever guard Sophie Cunningham and her public stance on biological distinctions in women’s sports.
Security request to cover shirts
According to Thomason, the shirts were worn without incident for most of the game. During overtime, a security guard approached their seats and told them the shirts were “offensive” and that other fans had complained. The guard offered two options: put on Atlanta Dream “Wellness & Health Night” shirts provided by arena staff, or leave the arena.
Thomason said she asked why the shirts were considered offensive. The guard replied that other fans had been offended, but did not cite any specific profanity, obscenity, or derogatory language prohibited by State Farm Arena’s policy. Facing the choice, Thomason and her daughter accepted the replacement shirts so they could remain for the final minutes of the game.
Ticket cost and fan intent
The mother and daughter reported paying roughly $1,000 each for their tickets and said they attended specifically to support Cunningham and women’s sports. “We did nothing,” Thomason told the New York Post after the game. “We were just sitting there.” The family also noted a fan wearing a “Protect Trans Rights” shirt earlier in the night, which may have drawn security’s attention.
League policies and ongoing debate
State Farm Arena’s prohibited‑items policy bars clothing or signs displaying explicit language, profanity, or derogatory characterizations toward people. The NBA Fan Code of Conduct similarly prohibits obscene or indecent messages on signs or apparel. In this case, security did not point to any specific prohibited language on the XX‑XY shirts, only labeling them “offensive.”
The incident comes as the WNBA continues to examine its approach to transgender athlete participation. Commissioner Cathy Engelbert announced a task force of team presidents and general managers to review eligibility rules, emphasizing the league’s commitment to fair competition and the integrity of the game. No immediate policy 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 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 five home games and fined her an undisclosed amount.
Community response
Both incidents have sparked discussion about how sports venues should handle politically charged fan messages. For the Thomasons, the core question remains whether they should have been allowed to remain seated in the shirts they purchased.
“I can’t believe that just happened in Atlanta, Georgia,” Thomason said.
Original reporting: The Dallas Express — read the source article.
