愛污传媒

Skip to main content

Police investigate 'homophobic death threats' sent to WNBA star Breanna Stewart鈥檚 wife

Marta Xargay and Breanna Stewart attend 'A Celebration of Olympic Basketball' presented by NBC Universal and NBA at Team USA House on August 5 in Paris, France. (Julien M. Hekimian / Getty Images for NBC Universal via CNN Newsource) Marta Xargay and Breanna Stewart attend 'A Celebration of Olympic Basketball' presented by NBC Universal and NBA at Team USA House on August 5 in Paris, France. (Julien M. Hekimian / Getty Images for NBC Universal via CNN Newsource)
Share

The New York Police Department (NYPD) is investigating 鈥渉omophobic death threats鈥 sent to New York Liberty star Breanna Stewart鈥檚 wife, Marta Xargay, via email after Game 1 of this year鈥檚 WNBA Finals.

Stewart told ESPN鈥檚 on Tuesday that the message was sent to Xargay, a former WNBA player, and that she and her wife had made the Liberty and league aware of the situation.

The NYPD told CNN in a statement that it was aware of the incident: 鈥淥n Sunday, October 13, 2024, at approximately 1815 hours, an email was sent to a relative of a WNBA player with a threatening message. The investigation is ongoing.鈥

Stewart, a two-time WNBA MVP, had the chance to win Game 1 of the Finals for New York but missed one of two free throws at the end of regulation and then was off-target with a layup at the end of overtime. The Minnesota Lynx ended up winning the opener but the series is now tied at 1-1 ahead of Game 3 on Wednesday.

鈥淪ometimes, people are taking things a little bit too far and too out of context and Marta had gotten homophobic death threats,鈥 Stewart told NBA Today鈥檚 Malika Andrews.

鈥淎 few other things have happened but just making sure that we鈥檙e doing as much as possible to continue to make sure that our team and the league is aware of the situation and continue to keep everybody safe,鈥 she said.

In a statement, a WNBA spokesperson told CNN the league will 鈥渃ontinue to emphasize that there is absolutely no room for hateful or threatening comments made about players, teams or anyone affiliated with the WNBA.鈥

They added: 鈥淲e鈥檙e aware of the most recent matter and are working with league and team security as well as law enforcement on appropriate security measures.鈥

CNN has reached out to the Liberty for comment.

The email comes amid a worrying rise of social media abuse directed at those playing in the WNBA.

Connecticut Sun veteran Alyssa Thomas spoke out following the franchise鈥檚 first-round series win against the Indiana Fever, saying, 鈥淚 think in my 11-year career I鈥檝e never experienced the racial comments from the Indiana Fever fan base.

鈥淚鈥檝e never been called the things that I鈥檝e been called on social media and there鈥檚 no place for it,鈥 Thomas added.

Last month, Sun guard DiJonai Carrington received backlash after accidentally colliding with Fever star Caitlin Clark during the series. Both Clark and Carrington denied that there was any malicious intent behind the incident.

Carrington鈥檚 girlfriend, Indiana player NaLyssa Smith, detailed some of the treatment Carrington had been subjected to.

鈥淢y girlfriend has been getting death threats, followed, called all type of sh*t,鈥 Smith , formerly known as Twitter.

Thomas added after the Sun鈥檚 first-round victory: 鈥淲e come to play basketball for our job and it鈥檚 fun, but we don鈥檛 wanna go to work every day and have social media blown up over things like that.鈥

Asked about the rise in abuse, Stewart said she wanted to use her platform to raise awareness.

鈥淲hy is this happening? Because we are the most inclusive league in all of professional sports and I can say that with confidence. But there鈥檚 no place for hate,鈥 Stewart added Tuesday.

鈥淲e want to continue to make sure that not only am I using this platform to make sure that we鈥檙e keeping it consistent and really putting the pressure on the league to keep us safe.

鈥淏ut knowing this is happening, not only in this league but really around the world, it鈥檚 unacceptable.鈥

CTVNews.ca Top Stories

A father and his two children who suffered severe burns in a Springfield, Ont. house fire have undergone surgery.

Police have confirmed the body of an employee who died at a Walmart in Halifax over the weekend was found in a walk-in oven.

With the B.C. election too close to call, Dr. Bonnie Henry was asked Tuesday how she feels about the possibility of a party that has repeatedly called for her firing forming government.

Local Spotlight

Residents of Ottawa's Rideauview neighbourhood say an aggressive wild turkey has become a problem.

A man who lost his life while trying to rescue people from floodwaters, and a 13-year-old boy who saved his family from a dog attack, are among the Nova Scotians who received a medal for bravery Tuesday.

A newly minted Winnipegger is hoping a world record attempt will help bring awareness for the need for more pump track facilities in the city.

A Springfield, Ont. man is being hailed a 'hero' after running into his burning home to save his two infant children.

Hortense Anglin was the oldest graduate to make her way across the platform at York University's Fall Convocation ceremony this week. At the age of 87, she graduated with an Honours degree in Religious Studies.

Looking for a scare with good intentions this Halloween season? The ghosts and ghouls of Eganville, Ont. invite families to tour the Haunted Walk at Lekbor Manor.

The image of a sleepy Saskatchewan small town with 'not a lot going on' is a well-known anecdote. However, one Saskatchewan company is hoping to change that 鈥 and allow communities both on and off the beaten path to share their stories and advertise what they have to offer.

A Moncton, N.B., home has been donated to the Friends of The Moncton Hospital Foundation and will be transformed into a resource hub for people living with cancer.

A Nova Scotia man crossing Canada on foot is passing through southwestern Ontario. Trevor Redmond is perhaps better known as the 鈥楩ellow in Yellow.鈥

Stay Connected