Riley Gaines says she was singled out at a WNBA game after arena staff instructed her to lower a sign thanking former player Sophie Cunningham, raising fresh questions about whether political expression is being applied evenly inside league venues.
The former NCAA swimmer described the incident following Sunday’s game at Target Center in Minneapolis, where she attended as a fan. According to Gaines, the issue centered on a small paper sign that thanked Cunningham, who has become well known for speaking publicly on issues involving women’s sports.
Gaines argued that her sign complied with the arena’s published rules and said a Target Center employee later apologized after the game, leaving her convinced the original instruction likely came from someone higher up.
