WNBA fans recall ejection threat over XX-XY Athletics shirt at Fever-Dream game: 'I was flabbergasted'

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Kasey Thomason and her daughter Annie recalled on Monday being threatened with an ejection from a game between the Indiana Fever and Atlanta Dream if they refused to cover up their XX-XY Athletics shirts in the crowd.

Kasey and Annie said on Fox News Channel’s “The Ingraham Angle” that they were approached by a security guard at the State Farm Arena in Atlanta who asked them to change the shirts in favor of a Dream T-shirt. Kasey said that the security guard wasn’t even sure why he was being told to ask them to remove the shirts.

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Kasey and Annie Thomason courtside in XX-XY t-shirts for Fever vs Dream 8/16/26

Local Georgia residents Kasey Thomason and her daughter, Annie (17) sitting three rows back at the Fever vs Dream game in Atlanta on Sunday, August 16th. (Courtesy of Kasey Thomason)

“He didn’t know what was offensive about it,” Kasey said. “He said he didn’t even understand but since someone told on us and said that they were offensive, we had to cover up, put on our Atlanta Dream shirts instead of our XX-XY.”

Annie added, “I was flabbergasted. It was the first time I experienced anything like that. I just had no words except like who is offended by the T-shirt at this point?”

The WNBA released a statement on the incident earlier Monday.

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WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert speaks to media at Gainbridge Fieldhouse.

WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert speaks to the media before the 2025 AT&T WNBA All-Star Game at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Ind., on July 19, 2025. (Getty Images)

“The WNBA is aware of interactions at last night’s game in Atlanta in which fans were asked by league security to cover their shirts,” a league spokesperson said. “This should not have happened.”

Annie said the WNBA’s statement didn’t make it any better.

“It’s 100% going to happen again until people actually do something about it,” she said. “And no, it does not make me feel better because they’re not going to do anything about it.”

A 2025 New York Times/Ipsos survey found the vast majority of Americans, including a majority of Democrats, don’t think transgender athletes should be permitted to compete in women’s sports.

Of the 2,128 people who participated, 79% said males who identify as women should not be allowed to participate in women’s sports. Of the 1,025 people who identified as Democrats or leaning Democrat, 67% said transgender athletes should not be allowed to compete with women. Among 1,022 Republicans, that number was 94%.

Kasey said she believed Americans are in even more agreement than what the poll showed.

Fans hold a Sophie Cunningham sign during a WNBA game at Climate Pledge Arena.

Fans hold a sign for Indiana Fever guard Sophie Cunningham during the first half between the Seattle Storm and the Indiana Fever at Climate Pledge Arena in Seattle, Wash., on July 28, 2026. (IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)

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“I’m pretty sure we’re like 90-10, 95-5 on men in women’s sports, but that 5 or 10% is so loud against us and it makes no sense. Like, common sense, people. That’s all we’re asking for,” she said.

Fox News’ Jackson Thompson contributed to this report.

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