Brooklyn, NY – Julie Potter purchased 25 tickets for the New York Liberty’s August 22 home game against the Indiana Fever and paid $100 for a halftime scoreboard message that thanked former gymnast Jennifer Sey and her apparel brand XX-XY Athletics. The receipt shows the payment was processed on August 17.
Potter’s original submission read, “Thank you Jennifer Sey! XX-XY Athletics will Save the Day!!” According to the Liberty’s sales team, the message was initially approved. One day before the game, the team emailed Potter stating the wording had been modified to, “Thank you Jennifer Sey, thank you for all you do for XX-XY Athletics,” and that the revised text would run at halftime.
When Potter asked for clarification, the Liberty’s email referenced a game date of August 29, which appears to be a typographical error, as the receipt lists the August 22 matchup. The team refunded the $100 on August 21, citing a policy that scoreboard messages must be “positive, celebratory content” and must not violate that spirit.
Potter called the change “censorship,” noting that her message had been approved and payment accepted before the alteration. She said she deliberately avoided mentioning Sophie Cunningham by name, fearing it would trigger a response, and that the message did not contain any derogatory language or direct reference to the “Save Women’s Sports” movement.
XX-XY Athletics, founded by Jennifer Sey, advocates for keeping transgender athletes out of female sports categories. The controversy comes amid a series of protests and counter‑protests surrounding WNBA player Sophie Cunningham, who has publicly opposed transgender participation in women’s sports. Recent incidents include security personnel asking a mother and daughter to cover their XX-XY shirts at a Fever game in Atlanta.
Potter said she plans to attend a rally supporting Cunningham before the next Liberty game but will no longer purchase tickets from the Liberty. She expressed continued support for the WNBA overall, stating she may direct future attendance and spending toward the Fever and other organizations that welcome her viewpoint.
Background on the fan and the league
Potter’s connection to the WNBA dates back to its inaugural season in 1997, when she attended the first two league games in Los Angeles as an 18‑year‑old. She praised the Liberty as an “incredible team” despite her frustration with the scoreboard incident.
The Liberty’s publicly available scoreboard‑message form requires submissions at least 48 hours before tip‑off and notes that proceeds support the Brooklyn Nets and the New York Liberty Foundation. The form does not list specific content restrictions beyond the general “positive, celebratory” guideline.
Legal and advocacy response
The Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF) sent a letter to WNBA leadership highlighting recent incidents involving supporters of Cunningham, alleging that fans have been silenced when trying to express their viewpoint. ADF legal counsel Suzanne Beecher said the league’s actions undermine its stated commitment to female athletes.
While the Liberty has not responded to requests for comment on the specific wording changes, the refund and brief explanation were provided to Potter via email.
Implications for fans and free expression
The episode adds to ongoing debates about free speech and parental‑rights‑type concerns within professional sports venues. Fans who wish to display messages supporting organizations like XX-XY Athletics may need to anticipate stricter review processes, especially when the content touches on the contentious issue of transgender participation in women’s sports.
Potter indicated she will consider future scoreboard opportunities if the Liberty respects her original wording, and she remains willing to support women’s sports through other teams and events that welcome her perspective.
Original reporting: Fox News (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
