Minneapolis – New York Liberty star Breanna Stewart says she and wife Marta Xargay Casademont received anonymous threatening emails containing homophobic content after Game 1 of the WNBA Finals.

The emails went directly to Xargay Casademont’s account, which was somewhat unsettling for the pair, Stewart said at practice on Tuesday.

“The fact that it was Marta’s email was something she had to face. The level of closeness was a little different,” she said. “Make sure me and Marta are safe, but that our children are safest.”

“I think it was particularly frightening for Marta,” ESPN quoted Stewart as saying.

According to ESPN, Stewart and Xargay Casademont have two children: three-year-old Ruby and 11-month-old Theo.

Stewart had a chance to win Game 1 of the WNBA Finals, but missed one of two free throws with 0.8 seconds left in regulation and then a potential layup in overtime. In the end, Minnesota won the game and now the series is 1-1 heading into Game 3 on Wednesday night in Minnesota.

The two-time MVP said she informed the team about the emails and they forwarded them to league security.

“We are taking the right precautions. I think the threats continue to increase after Game 1,” Stewart said. “We love that people are engaged in our sport, but not so much that there are threats, harassment or homophobic comments.”

The New York Post was first to report the threats.

Stewart said Xargay Casademont lodged a complaint with police on the advice of the team and security.

“When you’re in the finals and all that, it makes sense to submit something formal,” Stewart said.

The New York Police Department confirmed that it had received a report of serious harassment related to emails sent to “a 33-year-old victim.” The department’s hate crimes task force is investigating, a spokesman for the department’s media team said.

Stewart said that she doesn’t normally look at most of the messages she receives and that they usually go to her agency, but after it was brought to her attention by her wife, she wanted to let fans know that there is no place for that.

“For me it is unacceptable to use this platform to let people know that it enriches our sport,” she said.

This season there have been many more online threats against players via social media and email.

“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. “We are aware of the recent matter and are working with league and team security and law enforcement on appropriate security measures.”

Commissioner Cathy Engelbert addressed the increasing number of attacks players have faced on social media in her State of the League address before Game 1.

She said there is no place for it and the league will work with the players’ union to see what they can do together to address it.

Engelbert mentioned technology and mental health support.

“It’s just something where we have to continue to be a voice for, a voice against, condemn it and make sure that we find every opportunity to support our players who have been struggling with this for much longer than this year.” said Engelbert.

ESPN reports that Stewart said, “There has to be some kind of protocol or something before the season because this year, especially… it’s really starting to happen.”