WNBA Silent on Shirt Security Scandal as Dream Point Fingers at League
WNBA Apologizes After Security Forces Fans to Cover Up Their Shirts at Atlanta Game
What Happened at the Game?
Imagine going to a basketball game wearing your favorite t-shirt, only to be told by security that you have to cover it up or leave. That’s exactly what happened to several fans at a recent WNBA game in Atlanta.
The game: Atlanta Dream vs. Indiana Fever
The date: Sunday, August 16, 2026
The location: State Farm Arena (home of the Atlanta Hawks, not the Dream’s usual arena)
Important Point: The game was moved to this larger arena because superstar player Caitlin Clark was playing, and they expected a much bigger crowd than normal.
Who Was Affected?
At least three fans were told to cover their shirts:
| Fan | Shirt Message | What Happened |
|---|---|---|
| Kasey Thomason (mother) | XX-XY Athletics (supports protecting women’s sports) | Told to cover up |
| Annie Thomason (17-year-old daughter) | XX-XY Athletics | Told to cover up |
| Unnamed third fan | Pro-transgender message | Also told to cover up |
What Is XX-XY Athletics?
XX-XY Athletics is a clothing brand that advocates for keeping women’s sports categories for biological females only. The "XX" and "XY" refer to chromosomes:
- XX = typically female chromosomes
- XY = typically male chromosomes
The brand believes allowing biological males to compete in women’s sports is unfair to female athletes.
How Did the Teams and League Respond?
1. Atlanta Dream’s Statement
The Dream team quickly distanced themselves from the incident:
- Said their own staff were NOT involved
- Blamed WNBA league security directly
- Stated security "fell short" of their standards for a "safe and inclusive environment"
2. WNBA’s Official Apology
The league admitted the mistake:
"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. This should not have happened."
What the Fans Experienced
Kasey and Annie Thomason told Fox News Digital:
- The security person wasn’t dressed like normal arena security
- They were wearing a tan suit instead of a security uniform
- They felt "flabbergasted" (very surprised and confused)
- They were threatened with ejection if they didn’t comply
Why This Matters
This incident raises important questions about:
- Free speech at sporting events – Can fans wear shirts with messages?
- Consistent enforcement – Why were BOTH sides of a debate targeted?
- Who makes the rules? – League security vs. team staff vs. arena staff
Important Point: The fact that BOTH a shirt supporting one viewpoint AND a shirt supporting the opposite viewpoint were targeted suggests the issue wasn’t about the message but about any potentially controversial message.
Summary
- At a WNBA game in Atlanta, league security told multiple fans to cover their shirts
- Two fans wore XX-XY Athletics shirts (advocating for biological females in women’s sports)
- One fan wore a pro-transgender shirt (supporting trans inclusion)
- Both the Atlanta Dream and WNBA apologized, saying security was wrong
- The Dream emphasized their own staff had nothing to do with it
- The WNBA admitted "this should not have happened"
- Questions remain about who exactly made the decision and why
FAQ
Why were fans wearing political shirts to a basketball game?
Fans often wear shirts expressing their beliefs to sporting events. Both the XX-XY Athletics shirts and the pro-transgender shirt represent views on a current debate about who should compete in women’s sports categories.
Does the WNBA have a rule against political shirts?
The WNBA’s apology ("this should not have happened") suggests no such rule exists – or if it does, it wasn’t properly followed. The league admitted security made a mistake.
Why was the game at State Farm Arena instead of the Dream’s normal arena?
The Dream usually play at Gateway Center Arena, but moved this game to the larger State Farm Arena (home of the NBA’s Atlanta Hawks) because Caitlin Clark and the Indiana Fever were visiting, drawing a much larger crowd.
Who was the person in the tan suit?
The Thomasons described the security person as wearing a tan suit, not a typical security uniform. The WNBA hasn’t publicly identified who this person was or their exact role.
What happens next?
The WNBA says they’re aware of the incident. Fox News has asked for more details about who made the decision, but hasn’t received a response yet. The league may review security policies for future games.