Minneapolis — New York Liberty star Breanna Stewart says she and her wife, Marta Xargay Casademont, received anonymous, threatening and homophobic emails after Game 1 of the WNBA Finals.
The emails went directly to Xargay Casademont’s account, which was a bit disruptive for the couple, Stewart said at practice Tuesday.
“The fact that it came to Marta’s email is something she (had to) see. The level of closeness was a little different,” she said. “Make sure Marta and I are okay, but our kids are the safest.”
“I think for Marta, especially, I think it was, it’s terrifying,” Stewart said according to ESPN.
Julien M. Hekimian / Getty Images for NBC Universal
According to ESPN, Stewart and Xargay Casademont have two children: Ruby, three, and Theo, 11 months.
Stewart had a chance to win Game 1 of the WNBA Finals, but missed one of two free throws with 0.8 seconds left in regulation and then a potential game-tying layup at the buzzer. extension. Minnesota ended up winning the game and now the series is tied 1-1 heading into Game 3 Wednesday night at Minnesota.
The two-time MVP said she informed the team about the emails and they forwarded it to league security.
“We’re taking appropriate precautions. I think the threats continue to grow after the first game,” Stewart said. “We like people to engage with our sport, but not to the point where there are threats, harassment or homophobic comments.”
The New York Post was first to report the threats.
Stewart said Xargay Casademont filed a police report on the advice of the team and security.
“Being in the finals and everything else, it makes sense to file something formal,” Stewart said.
New York police confirmed they received a complaint of aggravated harassment involving emails sent to “a 33-year-old victim.” The department’s hate crimes task force is investigating, a spokesperson for the department’s media relations team said.
Stewart said she doesn’t usually look at most of the messages she receives and they are usually addressed to her agency, but once she was informed about them by her wife, she wanted to let fans know that there was no room for it.
“For me, using this platform to let people know that it’s unacceptable to bring something to our sport,” she said.
There have been many more online threats against players via social media and email this season.
“We continue to emphasize that there is absolutely no place for hateful or threatening comments toward players, teams or anyone affiliated with the WNBA,” a WNBA spokesperson said. . “We are aware of the most recent issue and are working with league and team security as well as law enforcement on appropriate security measures.”
Commissioner Cathy Engelbert addressed the growing number of attacks players have faced on social media during her State of the League address before Game 1.
She said there is no room for that and the league will work with the players’ union to determine what they can do together to combat the issue.
Engelbert mentioned technology and mental health support.
“It’s just something that we have to continue to be a voice for, a voice against, condemning it and making sure that we find every opportunity to support our players, who have been dealing with this for much longer long as this year,” Engelbert said.
ESPN reports that Stewart said, “There has to be a little protocol or something before the season, because this year, especially… it’s really starting to happen.”
