Allegations of Silence After Harassment Claims in WNBA

A former player for the Fever has alleged that the organization “encouraged” her and her teammates to stay quiet following the dismissal of a male staff member due to “sexual harassment” last season.

Brianna Turner, who played in the 2025 season with Indiana and is now with the Aces, shared her thoughts in a detailed thread on X. The issue resurfaced when Fever player Sophie Cunningham spoke out about it in the context of ongoing discussions regarding transgender athletes in women’s sports.

“What, really, was the issue that led to this? Last year, a male staffer on my WNBA team was let go for sexual harassment, and we were pushed to keep quiet about it,” Turner expressed. “That’s a serious problem. Issues like sexism, misogyny, homophobia, and racism are all issues we need to confront.”

In a statement to the media, the Fever emphasized that maintaining a respectful and professional workplace is their utmost priority, alongside protecting the players and staff. They reiterated that they take concerns seriously and investigate thoroughly.

Turner did not go into specifics regarding her allegations. However, a source familiar with the situation relayed that a “lower-level” team staffer made some “inappropriate comments” in a private conversation with another staff member, and that what occurred was not criminal or harmful. The comments were reportedly “vulgar and disrespectful,” but were not heard by any Fever players and were promptly reported, resulting in the staff member’s firing on the same day.

The players were immediately informed about the situation after the incident, and officials clarified that they were never instructed to refrain from discussing it. Local authorities were not contacted in relation to the incident.

This latest controversy comes during a period of heightened focus on the debate over the participation of transgender athletes in women’s sports. Cunningham has indicated in her statements, as featured in ESPN, her commitment to protecting young girls in the locker room, asserting that there’s no necessity to compete against biological males.

She recently reaffirmed her stance, suggesting her beliefs are simply “common sense.” The topic has become especially contentious following the Supreme Court’s June decision to uphold state bans on trans athletes participating in women’s sports.

The Fever has supported Cunningham’s right to express her views while maintaining an open environment for fans from all backgrounds. They stated, “Our players are thoughtful adults with their own perspectives, and those views belong to them.” Additionally, they declared their commitment to treating everyone with respect.

While Turner did not explicitly name Cunningham in her post, she responded to criticism regarding transgender athletes in women’s sports. “There are very few people who identify as transgender, yet it seems to be a constant source of contention,” her post stated. “As a WNBA player for eight seasons, we’ve had just one transgender player in the league to date, and there have been no issues.”