MINNEAPOLIS – Breanna Stewart's wife, Marta Xargay Casademont, reported to police and the WNBA a threatening and homophobic email she received after Game 1 of the WNBA Finals, the New York Liberty star said at practice Tuesday.

The email was sent directly to Xargay's email account, which Stewart said was “attached” to her Instagram profile. The author of the email reportedly hoped both would die after the Liberty forward missed a free throw to potentially win Game 1 and an open layup to tie the game in the final second of overtime was first reported by the New York Post.

“It’s scary,” Stewart told reporters at practice. “And knowing that people can have such direct access. And I know people will think, “You connected it to your Instagram, but there’s another level of invasion going on.”

Stewart, who called the specific comments “excessive,” said she wanted to use her platform to “make sure everyone knows that bringing (these comments) into our sport and really the world is unacceptable.” Connecticut Sun forward Alyssa Thomas spoke out about racist, homophobic and threatening rhetoric during the first round of the playoffs last month. Commissioner Cathy Engelbert said before Game 1 that the league is meeting with the players' union, players and teams during the offseason to address the rise in hateful rhetoric.

“We’re taking the right precautions,” Stewart said. “I think the threats continued to increase after Game 1. We love that people are engaged in our sport, but not to the point where there are threats, harassment or homophobic comments. So we continue to let the league know that they are taking care of it.”

The Liberty are on the road for Games 3 and 4 of the WNBA Finals, tied 1-1 against Minnesota. New York is seeking its first WNBA championship.

“We continue to emphasize that there is absolutely no place for hateful or threatening comments about players, teams or anyone associated with the WNBA,” a WNBA spokesperson said in a statement to Yahoo Sports on Tuesday evening. “We are aware of the recent matter and are working with league and team security and law enforcement on appropriate security measures.”

The WNBA's growth increased this season, sparking further concerns about player safety. At the start of the season, the league introduced charter flights for every game to keep players off commercial airlines. Brittney Griner was harassed at an airport last season. Teams also hired additional security guards to travel with players and stay in arenas.

Aces head coach Becky Hammon said in May that one of the first things she wanted when she took the role in December 2022 was increased security details for her big-name players, which included MVP A'ja Wilson and Olympians Chelsea Gray, Kelsey Plum and Jackie belong to Jung.

“When these ladies go to dinner, I want someone to be with them,” said Hammon, a former player. “I want you to be accompanied to the restaurant. I want them to come back.”

Stewart noted that certain players who are “under scrutiny” in the NBA and other leagues have bodyguards “for safety reasons,” she said. She said she believes there should be a preseason protocol outlining what players and their families should do when a direct threat like this arises, especially at a moment like the finale when millions of eyes are on them.

“Cathy (Engelbert) and the league can just continue to make sure they stay ahead of this,” Stewart said. “And really, with everything that has happened since Thursday, everyone has been hand in hand, step by step, thinking about what to do in the future.”

Stewart said Xargay took care of the issue after Game 1 and Stewart learned more about the situation after Game 2. The family ensures internally within the organization that everyone knows where Stewart is, so as not to put themselves in potential danger.

“I don't look at all of my messages when I look at social media, but the fact that they went straight to Marta's email was something she couldn't miss,” Stewart said. “So the level of closeness was a little different. And I think we just want to make sure that me and Marta are okay, of course, but that our children are the ones who are the safest.”