Brenna Stewart, wife Marta Gerge Casademont received threatening, anti-gay email after WNBA Finals Game 1, Stewart says

Minneapolis — New York Liberty star Breanna Stewart says she and her wife, Marta Jarge Casademont, received threatening, homophobic anonymous emails after Game 1 of the WNBA Finals.

The emails went directly to Xargay Casademont's account, which was somewhat upsetting for the couple, Stewart said at Tuesday's practice.

“It was actually something she had to look at in Martha's email. The level of intimacy was a little different,” he said. “Make sure me and Marta are okay, but our kids are the safest.”

“I think that for Marta, especially, I think it was, it's horrible,” ESPN quoted Stewart as saying.

According to ESPN, Stewart and Jorge Casademont have two children: three-year-old Ruby and 11-month-old Theo.

Stewart had a chance to win Game 1 of the WNBA Finals, but missed one of two free throws with 0.8 seconds left in regulation and a potential tying layup in overtime. Minnesota won the game and now the series is tied 1-1 in Game 3 on Wednesday night in Minnesota.

The two-time MVP said he notified the team about the emails and they escalated it to league security.

“We're taking the appropriate precautions. I think the threat is going to be there after Game 1,” Stewart said. “We love that people are engaged in our sport, but not to the point where threats or harassment or homophobic comments are being made.”

The New York Post first reported the threat.

Xargay Casademont filed a complaint with police at the suggestion of the team and security, Stewart said.

“Being in finals and everything like that, it makes sense to file something formal,” Stewart said.

The New York Police Department confirmed it received reports of aggravated harassment involving emails sent to “a 33-year-old victim.” A spokesperson for the department's media relations team said the department's hate crime task force is investigating.

Stewart said he usually doesn't see most of the messages he receives and they usually go to his agency, but once he was made aware of them by his wife he wanted to let fans know there was no room for it.

“For me to use this platform to let people know that this is unacceptable to bring to our sport,” he said.

There have been many more online threats made to players via social media and email this season.

“We emphasize that there is absolutely no place for hateful or threatening comments about players, teams or anyone associated with the WNBA,” a WNBA spokesperson said. “We are aware of the latest developments and are working with league and team security as well as law enforcement to take appropriate security measures.”

Commissioner Cathy Engelbert addressed the growing attacks on players on social media in her State-of-the-League address before Game 1.

He said there is no room for that and the league will work with the players' union to figure out what they can do together to combat it.

Engelbart mentions technology and mental health support.

“It's something where we have to be a voice for it, a voice against it, condemn it and make sure we find every opportunity to support our players, who have been dealing with it for a lot longer than this year. “It's been doing,” Engelbert said.

ESPN reported that Stewart said, “There needs to be a bit of a protocol or thing before the season, because this year, especially … it's really starting to happen.”