‘Atlanta Dream believes in creating a safe and inclusive environment’: Team at odds with WNBA over treatment of fans wearing anti-trans shirt

The Atlanta Dream hosted the Indiana Fever on Sunday night in what was one of the most exciting games of the regular season. The Fever, led by superstar Caitlin Clark, who scored 26 points and dished out nine assists, won the game in overtime with a final score of 95-91.

Unfortunately, some of the discourse surrounding the game on Monday had nothing to do with the amazing product on the floor. Two fans attending the game were wearing “XX-XY” shirts. The shirts are widley seen as a subtle way of advocating against transgender athletes participating in women’s sports, a debate that has surrounded the Fever since reserve guard Sophie Cunningham‘s comments in a July 21 ESPN profile.

Advertisement

“I got a lot of negative feedback about me hating trans. And I’m like, ‘I never once said that,'” she said. “I think that I am here to extend love. 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.”

The fans wearing the shirts on Sunday were forced to cover them with Dream apparel that was provided to them. Shockingly, on Monday, the Dream gave a statement on the incident, making it clear that the franchise does not support the decision that league’s decision to cover the shirts.

“The Atlanta Dream believes in creating a safe and inclusive environment for everyone,” the team posted on its official X account. “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.