Podcast host Brandi Kruse was forcibly escorted out of a Portland Thorns soccer match after a confrontation involving spectators displaying a “Save Women’s Sports” banner.
The incident occurred October 23 at Providence Park in Portland, Oregon, during the National Women’s Soccer League team’s game against the North Carolina Courage.
Kruse, who hosts the commentary program unDivided, joined attendees wearing XX-XY Athletics shirts. Founded by former Levi’s executive Jennifer Sey, the clothing company campaigns against transgender women competing in women’s sports.
It was Fan Appreciation Night and the club’s final home match of the regular season. The Thorns won 1-0, securing a playoff berth.
Security Holds Kruse’s Arm Behind Her Back During Her Removal
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
— Brandi Kruse (@BrandiKruse) October 24, 2026
In footage described by TMZ, a security guard tells Kruse she must leave the stadium. Kruse refuses, insisting that she has done nothing wrong.
The guard warns that she will place her hands on Kruse to escort her off the property. The recordings also show Kruse’s arm held behind her back as she is moved through the seating area, with a second guard assisting.
Someone recording asks whether Kruse is being arrested. The guard says she is escorting her out and explains that the restraint followed Kruse’s refusal to walk out when instructed.
“I am stunned over how the stadium handled it. At no point did they offer an explanation as to why we were being removed,” she said.
The Group Unveiled Its Banner at the Start of the Second Half
Some might say getting flipped off, having my phone knocked out of my hand and getting beer thrown on me was hostile. But I think that was just Thorns fans’ way of saying, “We love your work!” https://t.co/doM19LQWp7
— Matt Calkins (@Matt_Calkins) October 24, 2026
About 20 people attended the demonstration, according to an OutKick report by Matt Calkins and Jackson Thompson. They kept their shirt logos covered during the first half, then revealed them and unfurled the banner as the second half began.
Organizer Amy Sousa said the timing was deliberate. She hoped that staging the display during uninterrupted play would make it harder for security to remove the group.
The report describes nearby spectators shouting insults and chanting in support of transgender rights. Some carried transgender pride flags.
Kruse told TMZ that she was hit with flagpoles and had beer poured on her. She also alleged that another woman was pushed over two rows of seats.
Protesters Question Why Their Group Was Ordered Out
Kruse and Sousa said most spectators who confronted them were allowed to remain. They questioned why security removed their group while responding to a disturbance involving other fans.
OutKick said stadium security director Jim McCausland declined to discuss the matter because he did not have time. The club had not responded to the outlet’s request for comment by publication.
Fox News reported a Justice Department review and police investigations into harassment and vandalism, with no injuries reported to police or immediate arrests.
An Earlier Ejection Had Already Prompted a Dispute With the Club
Kruse told TMZ that she attended partly to protest an earlier removal involving supporters of the clothing brand.
A smaller group had been ejected during the September 6 match against the Washington Spirit. In a statement reported by KATU, the Thorns said those spectators had been “distributing unapproved materials,” which violated the stadium’s Fan Experience Guidelines. The club said it was reviewing that incident.
In a recording provided to KATU, a person who appeared to be associated with the stadium referred to something “transphobic” and someone “giving out information.” The station reported that the rest of the conversation was inaudible.
Sousa disputed the explanation, telling KATU that her group had brought a copy of the code of conduct and believed it had followed the rules.