Breanna Stewart held a sign reading “Abolish ICE” Sunday afternoon as players were introduced during the Unrivaled game between Vinyl and Mist.
Stewart, a co-founder of the league and one of the biggest names in the WNBA, made the statement the next day. Alex Pretti, 37-year-old critical care nurse, killed in Minneapolis by Border Patrol agents.
Advertisement
“Really, all day yesterday, I was just disgusted by everything we see on Instagram and in the news,” the Liberty star told reporters on Sunday: explaining his decision. “We’re so fueled by hate right now, and instead of love, so I wanted to have a simple message: ‘Abolish ICE,’ which means having policies to uplift families and communities instead of fueling fear and violence.
Unmatched Co-Founder Breanna Stewart (30) of The Mist watches the Breeze during the second quarter game at Sephora Arena on January 19, 2026 in Medley, Florida. Getty Images
She added: “Having that simple message before the match was important to me. And knowing that everyone here feels that way in one way or another, it was just the perfect moment.”
Other WNBA players have spoken out about the shooting, including Lynx star and Unrivaled co-founder Napheesa Collier.
Advertisement
NBA star Tyrese Haliburton also reacted to the violence in Minnesota in a social media post.
Stewart said the circumstances took on greater personal significance since his wife, Marta Xargay, is a Spanish citizen and they are still working on her U.S. citizenship.
“We’re working to get her citizenship, and she’s a legal permanent resident and all that,” Stewart said. “But it doesn’t seem to matter. And I think that’s why these policies need to be put in place, these reforms need to happen, because they don’t seem to affect the right people. It doesn’t help anyone.”
Mist’s Breanna Stewart (30) drives against Vinyl’s Rae Burrell (12) during the third quarter of the game at Sephora Arena on January 25, 2026 in Medley, Florida. Getty Images
Pretti was killed by a federal agent during an immigration enforcement operation in the Twin Cities.
Advertisement
Several videos show Pretti, who was legally armed and had a license for his weaponrecording officers with his cellphone before attempting to defend a woman being shoved by immigration officers, before being pepper-sprayed and tackled to the ground by several officers.
The video shows an officer removing the weapon before gunshots are heard a short time later.
