Breanna Stewart, a star of the New York Liberty team, views the WNBA as an inclusive and safe environment for its fans and players. She acknowledges a current challenge facing the league concerning inclusivity.

Recently, debates have arisen over whether transgender women, individuals who transition to align with their gender identity, should participate in the WNBA. Historically, the league has not had any transgender players. The collective bargaining agreement specifies the league is for women but lacks clarity on gender identity or sex assigned at birth.

Controversy intensified following comments by Sophie Cunningham of the Indiana Fever, who expressed opposition to transgender individuals competing in women’s sports in an ESPN profile. This has led to rallies and protests outside Indiana Fever games, with plans for further gatherings before the Liberty’s match against the Fever in Brooklyn.

Stewart spoke to reporters, emphasizing the importance of maintaining the WNBA as a safe space for both Liberty and Fever fans, despite differing views. Last Sunday, three fans were asked by security to cover clothing with messages about transgender participation during a game between the Atlanta Dream and the Fever. The league later affirmed the fans should have been free to wear the shirts.

Stewart highlighted the liberty for fans to express themselves at games, stressing the importance of free speech. She warned against efforts to divide teams and players, citing the league’s founding principles of inclusivity and advocacy.

Supporting the transgender community, Stewart faced criticism last year for launching a Harry Potter-themed shoe, as its creator J.K. Rowling received backlash for anti-trans comments. Stewart has donated proceeds from the shoe to The Trevor Project, focusing on suicide prevention and crisis intervention for LGBTQ+ youth.