CNN
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The New York Police Department (NYPD) is investigating “homophobic death threats” emailed to New York Liberty star Breanna Stewart's wife, Marta Xargay, after Game 1 of this year's WNBA Finals.

Stewart told ESPN's NBA Today on Tuesday that the message was sent to Xargay, a former WNBA player, and that she and her wife made the Liberty and the league aware of the situation.

The NYPD told CNN in a statement that it was aware of the incident: “On Sunday, October 13, 2024, at approximately 6:15 p.m., an email containing a threatening message was sent to a relative of a WNBA player. The investigation is ongoing.”

Stewart, a two-time WNBA MVP, had a chance to win Game 1 of the Finals for New York, but missed one of two free throws at the end of regulation and missed his target on a layup at the end of overtime. In the end, the Minnesota Lynx won the opener, but the series is now tied 1-1 heading into Game 3 on Wednesday.

“Sometimes people go a little too far and lose context, and Marta got homophobic death threats,” Stewart told Malika Andrews of NBA Today.

“There were a few other things that happened, but we're just making sure we're doing as much as we can to make sure our team and the league are aware of the situation and continue to keep everyone safe,” she said.

In a statement, a WNBA spokesperson told CNN the league will “continue to emphasize that there is absolutely no room for hateful or threatening comments about players, teams or anyone associated with the WNBA.”

They added: “We are aware of the recent matter and are working with league and team security and law enforcement on appropriate security measures.”

CNN has reached out to Liberty for comment.

The email comes amid a troubling increase in social media abuse directed at WNBA players.

Connecticut Sun veteran Alyssa Thomas spoke out after the franchise's first-round win over the Indiana Fever, saying, “I don't think I've ever experienced racist comments from the Indiana Fever fan base in my 11-year career.”

“I have never been called what I have been called on social media and there is no place for that,” Thomas added.

Last month, Sun guard DiJonai Carrington received backlash after accidentally bumping into Fever star Caitlin Clark during the series. Both Clark and Carrington denied there was any malicious intent behind the incident.

Carrington's friend, Indiana player NaLyssa Smith, described some of the treatment Carrington received.

“My friend has been receiving death threats, being stalked and insulted in all kinds of ways,” Smith posted on X, formerly known as Twitter.

Thomas added after the Sun's first-round win: “We come to play basketball for our job and it's fun, but we don't want to go to work every day and blow up social media over stuff like that .”

Asked about the increase in abuse, Stewart said she wanted to use her platform to raise awareness.

“Why is this happening? Because we are the most inclusive league in all of professional sports, and I can say that with confidence. But there is no place for hate,” Stewart added Tuesday.

“We want to continue to make sure that I'm not just using this platform to make sure that we keep it consistent and really put pressure on the league to keep us safe.

“But knowing that this is happening not just in this league but all over the world is unacceptable.”