Did Breanna Stewart & wife Marta Xargay receive homophobic death threats? Closer look at email targeting WNBA star

New York Liberty star Breanna Stewart is busy playing in the 2024 WNBA Finals against the Minnesota Lynx. But back home, her wife Marta Xargay received a homophobic death threat via an anonymous email.

According to the New York Post, Xargay received an email filled with homophobic and anti-gay messages. It was not the first time Xargay or Stewart received an email, per the Post.

Xargay reported the case to the New York Police Department's 78th precinct in Brooklyn last Thursday. One of the lines from the email read:

"I hope someone shoots your wife dead, f–k you d—es [sic], I hope you both die."

The New York Post cited a source from NBA security that the email was traced to an address that is linked with more hateful messages, as well as death threats, bomb threats and racist ideologies.

Breanna Stewart and Marta Xargay began dating when they were teammates at Dynamo Kursk in Russia. Xargay played two seasons in the WNBA for the Phoenix Mercury from 2015 to 2016. They were married on July 6, 2021, at the top of Stewart's apartment building.

The couple has two children together, a daughter named Ruby Mae born in 2020 via surrogacy, and a son named Theo Josep born last 2021 through Xargay's pregnancy.

Stewart, Xargay, the New York Liberty and the WNBA have not commented on the matter. Xargay and their kids were at the Barclays Center on Sunday to watch Stewart and the Liberty even the 2024 WNBA Finals against the Minnesota Lynx at one apiece.

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Breanna Stewart focused on winning her third WNBA championship

Breanna Stewart focused on winning her third WNBA championship. (Photo: IMAGN)

The New York Liberty could have had a 2-0 lead in the 2024 WNBA Finals if they didn't blow an 18-point lead in Game 1. Breanna Stewart got the brunt of the loss since she missed the game-winning free throw with less than a second left in regulation as the Liberty lost in overtime.

Stewart also had the chance to send the game to the second extra period but missed the game-tying layup at the buzzer. However, she was not letting it happen again in Game 2, leading the Liberty to a huge 80-66 win. She finished with 21 points, eight rebounds and five assists.

"Just like not letting history repeat itself and knowing that Game 1 happened but now, you know, how can we control Game 2," Stewart said after the game, according to CBS Sports. "I think that honestly the thought process was, we were trying to be up a little bit more. Like not letting them get to the 3-point line to set up their offense."

Game 3 of the 2024 WNBA Finals will be on Tuesday at the Target Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota.