Jennifer Sey reports verbal abuse from fans at WNBA Finals Game 1

Jennifer Sey, founder and CEO of XX-XY Athletics, reported that she and her companions faced severe verbal harassment and physical intimidation from Golden State Valkyries fans during Game 1 of the WNBA Finals at Chase Center in San Francisco. The incident occurred on Saturday and centered on the women's decision to wear T-shirts displaying the text XX-XY.

Sey, who stated she lived in San Francisco for approximately thirty years, said she traveled to the game with friends to support Indiana Fever player Sophie Cunningham. In a statement to OutKick, she described the initial atmosphere as friendly with their seatmates, but noted the situation became contentious as the game progressed. She recounted that a fan across the aisle began pointing aggressively at her group, gesturing with an offensive hand sign, and filming them. Sey believed the fan assumed she could get her group ejected for wearing the shirts.

The conflict escalated when security personnel approached the group. Sey said they were told to accompany an officer, and while walking up the stairs to their seats, they were surrounded by fans who directed profanities at them. One fan told Sey to "eat my a after you s. You're disgusting," while another told her to "f kill yourself." Sey added that dozens of fans waved and chanted "Bye!" as the group moved through the aisle. A video posted by Sey on X captured the hostility, including a male fan who told her, "You're a horrible human being," and a female fan who held a pro-trans sign upside down near them.

Security officials reviewed the situation with the group before allowing them to remain in their seats. Sey stated that a security guard told her they were being accused of instigating or antagonizing other fans by pointing their shirts in their direction. The guard confirmed that wearing the shirts did not violate the Fan Code of Conduct but asked the group not to hold them up toward other fans. Security offered an escort out of the building due to the hostile environment, and Sey and her friends were escorted from the arena after the game concluded for their safety.

The incident follows a series of controversies earlier in the season regarding fans wearing XX-XY apparel. In Atlanta, a mother and daughter were threatened with ejection at an Atlanta Dream game unless they covered their shirts with Dream merchandise. In Seattle, two teenage girls wearing similar shirts were verbally attacked by a Seattle Storm co-owner, who was subsequently fined and suspended. Golden State Valkyries star Gabby Williams previously stated she would welcome a trans athlete on or against her team, calling it "just another way to attack trans people." Sophie Cunningham's earlier comments about protecting women's sports from the inclusion of male athletes have been a focal point for debate within the league.