Liberty star Breanna Stewart says her wife received a death threat after their Game 1 loss to the Lynx in the WNBA Finals

New York Liberty star Breanna Stewart says her family received homophobic death threats after the team’s loss to the Minnesota Lynx in Game 1 of the WNBA Finals. In an interview with NBA Today, Stewart said she is working with the team and league to ensure the safety of her family.

Stewart claims her wife, Marta Xargay Casademont, received a threatening and homophobic email after the Liberty dropped Game 1 to the Lynx. Stewart added that the WNBA has been made aware of the threat.

“It came after the loss in Game 1, and sometimes people go a little too far and take things too far out of context,” Stewart said. “Marta had received homophobic death threats. A few other things happened. We’re just making sure we do as much as we can to make sure our team and the league are aware of the situation and continue to keep everyone safe.”

This was far more than the typical hate an athlete receives online after a defeat. Stewart said the threat was an “intrusion” into her family’s private life.

“There’s an invasion on a different level going on,” Stewart said. “[We want to make] I’m sure this isn’t just out of fear mongering. And if so, it is still highly inappropriate and unacceptable.”

Stewart added that it was sad to see this happen in “the most inclusive league in all of professional sports.” She remains committed to using her platform to condemn hate of all kinds.

“There is no place for hatred – homophobia or racism,” Stewart said. “We want to make sure I’m not just using this platform to make sure we stay consistent and put pressure on the league to keep us safe. I know this is happening not just in this league but all over the world, is unacceptable.”

The topic of hateful online rhetoric has come up frequently this WNBA season. Just last month, Commissioner Cathy Engelbert had to retract some of her earlier comments about hate speech against players on social media.

“I should have said directly and unequivocally that hate speech is harmful,” Englebert said. “This is a teachable moment that I accept with humility. There is absolutely no place for racism, misogyny, homophobia and other forms of hate in the WNBA or anywhere else.”

“I know many of you have been struggling with this for a long time. I want us as a league to do our part to change the all-too-often toxic and abusive nature of social media discourse.”