The spouse of New York Liberty WNBA star Breanna Stewart was the goal of demise threats final week, the New York ahead stated on Tuesday.
Marta Xargay Casademont, a former WNBA participant who married Stewart in 2021, acquired the threats in Stewart’s private e-mail account.
The couple have two kids, aged 3 and 11 months previous.
Stewart stated on Tuesday: “Myself and my family, we’re definitely doing OK. We’re taking the proper precautions.”
She stated she notified the WNBA and the Liberty and that Xargay Casademont alerted the police.
The emails got here within the wake of New York’s extra time loss to the Minnesota Lynx in Sport 1 of the WNBA Finals on Thursday. Stewart had an opportunity to win the sport however missed a free throw within the final second of regulation, after which she was astray on a would-be game-tying layup within the final second of extra time.
“We love that people are engaged in our sport, but not to the point where there’s threats or harassment or homophobic comments being made, so we’re just continuing to let the league know,” Stewart stated.
“They’re handling it, but also, I think for me, just continue to use this platform to make sure that everyone knows that it’s unacceptable to bring to our sport and really into the world.”
She added: “There’s another level of invasion happening there. (We want to make) sure that this isn’t happening only just for a scare tactic. And if it is, it still is highly inappropriate and unacceptable.”
The problem of on-line vitriol directed at WNBA gamers prompted the league’s commissioner, Cathy Engelbert, to say final week: “We stand united in condemning racism and all forms of hate. The WNBA is one of the most inclusive and diverse professional sports leagues in the world, and we will continue to champion those values.”
Stewart stated of the league doubtlessly setting in place tips for easy methods to cope with hateful messages and threats: “There needs to be a little bit of like a protocol or a thing before the season, because this year especially is one it’s really starting to happen.”
