Recent comments made by Sophie Cunningham have fueled an ongoing transgender debate in the WNBA.
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But at Gateway Center Arena, which hosted a game last night between the Atlanta Dream and Cunningham's team, the Indiana Fever, security tried not to add more fuel to the fire.
Guards told a mother and daughter at the game to cover their "XX/XY" and "For the Girls" T-shirts because they were considered "offensive."
The Mother and Daughter Were Told They Would Have to Leave the Arena
The moment happened during overtime. The mother and daughter were allegedly told to put on a "Wellness Night" T-shirt instead. Otherwise, they would be removed from the game.
"We were made to cover up our XX-XY shirts at this game," the mom said to a fan. "They gave us T-shirts during overtime and told us we had to leave or cover our shirts up."
The duo paid $1,000 each for their tickets. They alluded to their wardrobe choice as being a way to support Cunningham. The WNBA star has come under scrutiny after an ESPN interview last month.
"We did nothing," the mom said. "We were just sitting there."
She then added, "I didn't make signs. I wanted to make signs, but I didn't. I did nothing."
What Did WNBA Star Sophie Cunningham Say?
In the interview, Cunningham discussed the negative feedback she has received over comments about how to "protect women's sports." She emphasized that she has never said she hates those who identify as transgender.
"I think that I am here to extend love," she added. "But I also think with that love is truth, being honest. And I want to protect young girls in a locker room, or young girls in sport who shouldn't have to go against biological men."
This has made WNBA games a subject for political debate over the past several weeks. In fact, at the Indiana-Atlanta game, a fan wearing a "Protect Trans Rights" shirt was allegedly told by security to zip up her jacket after she appeared on the jumbotron.
The mother and daughter say the woman wearing the shirt alerted security about them. The mother said it was "bulls**t" that she had to zip up her jacket.
"I can't believe that just happened in Atlanta, Georgia," the mom said.
