Liberty star says family takes ‘due precautions’ after wife receives threatening, anti-gay email

New York Liberty star Breanna Stewart told reporters Tuesday that her family is “fine” after her wife received a threatening, anti-gay email following the team’s Game 1 loss to the Minnesota Lynx. of the WNBA Finals.

The two-time MVP reported the incident to Liberty and the league, while his wife, former professional basketball player Marta Xargay Casademont, reported the incident to police.

The couple has two children.

“We are taking the necessary precautions. I think the threats continue to increase after Game 1,” Stewart said. “We love people being involved in our sport, but not to the point where there are threats, harassment or homophobic comments.”

According to the New York Post, which first reported the threats, Casademont reported the threatening email to the NYPD’s 78th Precinct in Brooklyn on Thursday, which said:

“I hope someone shoots your wife to death, fuck (sic), I hope you both die,” among other things, police sources said via the Post.

A spokesperson for the New York Police Department told the Associated Press that the department’s hate crimes task force is investigating the incident.

“There’s another level of invasion going on there,” Stewart said via ESPN. “(We want to make) sure this isn’t just happening as an intimidation tactic. And if it is, it is still highly inappropriate and unacceptable.”

The emails were sent directly to Xargay’s account.

“(The threat was) something she couldn’t unsee,” Stewart said. “So the level of proximity was a little different. And I think we just want to make sure that, obviously, Marta and I are okay, but our kids are the safest.”

The Associated Press received the following statement from a WNBA spokesperson regarding the incident:

“We continue to emphasize that there is absolutely no room for hateful or threatening comments made about players, teams or anyone affiliated with the WNBA. We are aware of the latest matter and are working with league and team security, as well as law enforcement, on appropriate security measures.”

Tied 1-1, Game 3 of the WNBA Finals takes place Wednesday night in Minnesota.