Journalist Removed from Soccer Game for Wearing Pro-Biological Sex Shirt
Seattle journalist Brandi Kruse was forcibly removed from a Portland Thorns game for wearing a shirt supporting sex-based protections in women’s sports.
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Another contentious confrontation over free expression has erupted in women’s professional sports, as independent journalist Brandi Kruse claims she was physically removed from a Portland Thorns soccer game for wearing a shirt supporting sex-based protections in women’s athletics.
Incident at Portland Thorns Game
Kruse, host of the independent political commentary program unDivided, was escorted out of Providence Park in Portland, Oregon, on Friday night, October 23, during a National Women’s Soccer League match between the Portland Thorns FC and North Carolina Courage.
Her offense was wearing a T-shirt from XX-XY Athletics, a sportswear company founded by former Levi’s executive Jennifer Sey that advocates preserving female athletic categories based on biological sex.
I was just forcefully removed from a @ThornsFC game for the crime of wearing an @xx_xyathletics t-shirt. I am in shock. We peacefully wore our shirts. We were assaulted by fans. Then WE were forced to leave – with FORCE by stadium security. I am utterly in shock. https://t.co/7mpC9TAwI4
Kruse said she and other supporters peacefully wore their shirts before being confronted and assaulted by opposing fans. Yet, according to her account, stadium security ultimately removed her group rather than the individuals she accused of attacking them.
She protested the removal, repeatedly maintaining that she had done nothing wrong.
In 2026, this is how women are treated for peacefully standing up for their rights. There was no way I was going to leave that stadium of my own free will. We did nothing wrong. https://t.co/NjIBxXwTDS
Videos subsequently shared by Kruse show security personnel physically escorting her through the stadium seating area.
The journalist later highlighted what she described as an astonishing double standard in how stadium officials treated fans with competing political messages.
These are the shirts allowed for the @ThornsFC fans. None of them were removed. They have chants about burning people alive. Fans assaulted multiple people wearing @xx_xyathletics shirts. None of them were removed. I am quite literally in shock. https://t.co/djnj47Xo3z
Additionally, some Thorns fans allegedly assaulted women who were part of Kruse’s group.
Thorns fans assault a women in our group for wearing XX/XY shirts. @SF_TERF_CENTRAL https://t.co/HaXLlHz9pI
This is not the first time Portland Thorns fans wearing XX-XY Athletics merchandise have been removed from Providence Park. On September 6, eight spectators wearing the brand’s apparel were escorted from a Thorns match against the Washington Spirit.
At the time, the Portland Thorns claimed the individuals were removed for distributing unapproved materials in violation of stadium guidelines.
Amy Sousa, one of the spectators removed from the September match, insisted that members of her group had not distributed promotional materials and accused stadium officials of targeting their political beliefs.
Following that confrontation, the group also encountered opposition at The Sports Bra, a Portland establishment dedicated to women’s sports, where staff asked them to conceal the messages on their clothing or leave.
The bar defended its decision, arguing that messages opposing transgender inclusion in women’s athletic categories conflicted with its commitment to inclusion.
Source: The Gateway Pundit
