WNBA Team Sparks CHAOS After Banning Patriotic Message While Running Radical Trans Propaganda

Liberty Check

• New York Liberty censored a fan’s paid scoreboard message thanking XX-XY Athletics founder Jennifer Sey, then ran multiple pro-trans messages in its place
• Counter-protesters mobbed Fox News journalists outside the arena, stole camera equipment, and refused to answer any questions about their actions
• The WNBA continues to prioritize woke ideology over the women and fans who built the sport

The New York Liberty crossed a dangerous line Saturday when the team censored a paying customer’s scoreboard message — only to replace it with radical transgender propaganda. The incident sparked protests outside Brooklyn’s Barclays Center and exposed the hypocrisy at the heart of today’s WNBA.

Julie Potter, a lesbian hip-hop artist, spent over $2,000 on 25 tickets and paid an additional $100 for a custom halftime message. Her original submission was simple and celebratory: “Thank you Jennifer Sey! XX-XY Athletics will Save the Day!!”

The Liberty accepted Potter’s money, then attempted to rewrite her message without permission. When Potter objected and demanded either her original wording or a refund, the team chose the refund — one day before the game against the Indiana Fever.

“Our scoreboard messages are limited to positive, celebratory content, and submissions that may intentionally or unintentionally violate that spirit are not eligible for display,” the Liberty sales team claimed in an email to Potter.

But here’s where the hypocrisy becomes undeniable. During that same halftime show, the Liberty ran at least three pro-transgender messages on the scoreboard:

“Big welcome to the NY Liberty transgender fan community! So excited to be here with you all!!”

“Welcome Trans Liberty fans! You are loved and you belong!”

“Hey trans fans! Glad you’re here! Go Liberty!”

Apparently thanking a female athlete advocate doesn’t qualify as “positive, celebratory content,” but multiple political messages supporting transgender ideology do. The double standard couldn’t be more obvious.

The controversy stems from the ninth Sophie Cunningham rally of the season — grassroots events where women’s sports activists gather to support biological women in athletics. These rallies have drawn increasingly hostile counter-protests from transgender activists.

Saturday’s demonstration outside the arena turned confrontational when a large crowd of trans activists refused to answer any questions from Fox News Digital. Instead of engaging in civil dialogue, the mob surrounded the reporter from all sides, waving flags in his face and placing a trans flag sticker on his back.

The situation escalated when protesters literally stole the glasses off a Fox News photographer’s head while he was filming. The glasses were never returned.

The crowd then began chanting “trans lives matter!” repeatedly for nearly a minute, shouting over any attempt at conversation. New York City Police had to intervene and escort the Fox News reporter out of the enclosed crowd for his safety.

An ambassador for the pro-trans protesters later told Fox News Digital that the group had pre-emptively agreed not to participate in any media interviews “as a gesture of solidarity.” No explanation was provided for why solidarity requires silencing dissent, stealing property, or preventing journalists from doing their jobs.

Police confirmed to Fox News Digital that the reporter hadn’t done anything wrong, but the escort was necessary “for his safety and to keep the peace.”

Sophie Cunningham, the Indiana Fever player at the center of the controversy, addressed the demonstrations before Saturday’s game with measured optimism.

“Knowing that rallies are happening on both sides shows the platform that the W has and the stunts for attention are just continuing to try and ride the wave that we have,” Cunningham said. “I want Liberty fans and even Indy fans that are going to come here tonight to be able to have this arena be a safe space.”

She added that the attention has brought more fans to WNBA games, which she views as positive.

“You have a lot of new fans, not only just watching, but coming to games and seeing the environment and seeing the talent,” Cunningham explained. “I think anytime you can get more eyes on the W, that’s an awesome thing, because then that inspires other young kids that maybe have never seen the game or heard about the game or been to a game, they get that experience.”

The New York Liberty defeated the Fever 109-102, but the real story happened off the court. A professional sports franchise demonstrated that it’s willing to censor paying customers who support women’s sports while amplifying political messages that directly contradict that mission.

Jennifer Sey, the Olympic gymnast and founder of XX-XY Athletics, has become a leading voice for protecting women’s sports from biological male participation. Her brand celebrates female athletes and advocates for fair competition based on biological sex — positions that were mainstream common sense just a few years ago.

Now, merely thanking Sey gets your message censored. But promoting transgender ideology gets you featured programming.

The WNBA owes its very existence to female athletes who fought for opportunities in professional sports. Title IX was passed to protect women’s athletics. Generations of women dedicated their lives to building these leagues and opportunities.

Yet today’s WNBA leadership seems more interested in progressive politics than honoring that legacy. When activists outside your arena are stealing journalists’ equipment and the team inside is censoring fans for supporting women’s sports, something has gone terribly wrong.

Julie Potter and the 24 other women who attended the Cunningham rally despite the censorship deserve credit for standing their ground. They represent millions of Americans who believe biological women deserve their own sports categories — and that thanking someone who fights for that principle should qualify as “positive, celebratory content.”

The Liberty have not responded to requests to explain why Potter’s original message violated their content standards while multiple pro-trans messages did not.

The Constitution must be defended.