C-40
NEW AGE POSTING
Threatening, anti-gay email sent to wife of Liberty's Breanna Stewart
Two-time MVP Breanna Stewart on Tuesday said her wife received a threatening, anti-gay email following the New York Liberty's loss to the Minnesota Lynx in Game 1 of the WNBA Finals. "Myself and my family, we're definitely doing OK," Stewart told reporters Tuesday. "We're taking the proper precautions." Stewart reported the incident to the Liberty and to the league, while her wife, Marta Xargay Casademont, reported the incident to police. "I think that for Marta, especially, I think it was, it is, terrifying," Stewart said. "With the spotlight of being in the Finals and everything like that, they said it makes the most sense to [file something formal]," Stewart said.In Game 1 on Thursday, Stewart missed a free throw that would have given New York the lead with 0.8 seconds remaining in regulation, and she later misfired on a layup that would have tied it at the end of overtime. The series is now tied 1-1 after Stewart and the Liberty bounced back in Game 2 in Brooklyn. "[The threat was] something that she couldn't not see," Stewart said of Xargay Casademont. "So the level of closeness was a little bit different. And I think that we just want to make sure, obviously, myself and Marta are OK, but our kids are the ones that are the safest." Stewart, a three-time Olympic gold medalist and four-time national champion at UConn, and Xargay Casademont have two children: Ruby, 3, and Theo, who turns 1 at the end of the month.
The incident comes as many WNBA players have said they've experienced an uptick of racist, misogynistic, anti-gay and otherwise vitriolic behavior directed toward them in a season where the league has exploded in popularity and growth. DiJonai Carrington and Angel Reeae are among players who have said they've been on the receiving end of threatening messages. Stewart on Tuesday said everyone has been "step-in-step" in helping support her and her family since Thursday, while prompting Engelbert and the league to "continue to make sure that they're ahead of this ... and be ready for action, so even me and Marta aren't [wondering what to do]."
Click Here For Full Story