The WNBA’s stance on a pair of fans being asked to cover their shirts at Sunday’s Dream-Fever game is clear.
“This should not have happened,” a league spokesperson said of the incident on Monday.
A mother and daughter were reportedly told by security at Atlanta’s Gateway Center Arena their XX-XY Athletics shirts were “offensive,” and were forced to either put on Dream T-shirts or leave the game.
“We were made to cover up our XX-XY shirts at this game,” the mom was recorded saying outside the arena after the game in Atlanta. “They gave us T-shirts during overtime and told us we had to leave or cover our shirts up. This just happened.”
“We did nothing,” she continued. “We were just sitting there. I didn’t make signs. I wanted to make signs, but I didn’t. I did nothing.”
The pair claimed they were “told on” by another fan who was made to cover up a “Protect Trans Rights” shirt.
The Dream also weighed in on the incident, noting that they missed the mark.
“The Atlanta Dream believes in creating a safe and inclusive environment for everyone,” the team wrote in a statement. “Unfortunately, at last night’s game, WNBA security took actions that fell short of that standard. At no point was Dream personnel involved in the decisions made by WNBA security.”
The Fever have become a lightning rod in recent weeks after guard Sophie Cunningham told ESPN that she wants “to protect young girls in a locker room, or young girls in sport who shouldn’t have to go against biological men.”
WNBA security told 2 fans to cover their “XX/XY” and “For the girls” shirts or LEAVE the Fever-Dream game.
Meanwhile, a “Protect Trans Rights” shirt was featured on the Jumbotron. pic.twitter.com/TstweQoU98
— BrickCenter (@BrickCenter_) August 17, 2026
That has led to rallies in support of and against Cunningham, with XX-XY Athletics — an apparel maker with a stated mission “to empower female athletes and take a stand for fair competition” — backing the Indiana star.
The WNBA has also faced scrutiny of its rules pertaining to transgender athletes, with ex-NBA players Enes Kanter and Royce White claiming their eligibility for the league.
League officials met last week as part of an anti-hate task force, which concluded there were “no immediate eligibility matters affecting” the WNBA, and that “we strongly denounce the bad-faith efforts to use these topics to demean or marginalize others.”
