INDIANAPOLIS — Former Indiana Fever player Brianna Turner said in a post on X the organization encouraged her and her teammates to stay quiet about a male staffer who was fired for sexual harassment last year.
Turner, who signed a one-year deal with the Fever for the 2025 season and now plays for the Las Vegas Aces, took to social media to show her support for transgender athletes in sports after comments by current Fever player Sophie Cunningham. Turner and Cunningham were teammates in 2025.
As part of a nine-post thread, Turner said: “An issue that has caused problems though? Last year on my WNBA team a male staff member was fired for sexual harassment, but we were encouraged to keep quiet about it. That is an issue. Sexism, misogyny, homophobia, and racism are all issues.”
The Indiana Fever did not respond to a request for comment. It’s unclear if a police report was filed in relation to the accusation for alleged sexual harassment last year.
Turner’s thread started with a quote, “Because exclusion is never the answer…trans lives matter,” which is what Minnesota Lynx coach Cheryl Reeve said, in part, July 17 about attacks on transgender people. Turner went on to write in her post, “Beautifully said. I’ve been an advocate for the trans community since I entered the WNBA. So many takes about them are based on fear mongering and bigotry.”
It occurred on the same night Cunningham, defended her comments that she wanted to protect young girls in locker rooms and in sport who “shouldn’t have to go against biological men.”
“It’s kind of common sense, and I think I’ll always believe in that,” Cunningham said Wednesday. “I think it’s really important to protect children, and that’s little girls who are also involved in that category. So I stand on what I said, and I’ll always believe that.”
Her remarks came after a quote from a profile published by ESPN on Tuesday went viral.
Turner did not mention Cunningham by name in her social media posts.
This story will be updated.
Chloe Peterson is the Indiana Fever beat reporter for IndyStar. Reach her at chloe.peterson@indystar.com. Get IndyStar’s Indiana Fever and Caitlin Clark coverage sent directly to your inbox with our Caitlin Clark Fever newsletter. Subscribe to IndyStar TV: Fever for in-depth analysis, behind-the-scenes coverage and more.
This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Former player alleges Indiana Fever wanted them to ‘keep quiet’ about firing for sexual harassment
Reporting by Chloe Peterson, Indianapolis Star / Indianapolis Star
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By Chloe Peterson, Indianapolis Star | USA TODAY Network
