WNBA bans all women from stadiums after two fans wear XX/XY shirts to game
ATLANTA — The Women’s National Basketball Association announced Tuesday that all women will be prohibited from entering stadiums during games, effective immediately.
The policy was enacted after two female spectators were observed wearing shirts that read “XX/XY” during a recent contest. League officials described the shirts as a direct challenge to the organization’s stated position that it is “not in the business of biology.”
In a memo distributed to arena security teams, the league directed staff to enforce a complete ban on women in all spectator areas for the remainder of the season. The memo cited “the need to maintain a consistent environment free from biological assertions.”
“This is not a partial restriction,” the memo stated. “It is a zero-tolerance standard. The presence of women in the stands has been determined to create an unacceptable risk of further incidents.”
League representatives declined to clarify whether the ban applies to players’ family members, female staff, or media. A spokesperson said only that “operational details are being refined.”
No timeline was provided for when, or if, the restriction might be lifted. The league noted that the decision was made “in the interest of clarity” following the shirt incident.
Arena operators confirmed they had begun updating entry protocols. Male ticket holders were told they would not be affected.
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