WNBA superstar Angel McCoughtry has come out as gay and confirmed that she experienced discrimination during her stint with her former basketball team in Turkey.


McCoughtry, who is playing for the Atlanta Dream in the WNBA, revealed her real sexual orientation through a photo of her on Instagram, which also shows her partner, Brande Elise.

"Yes we been discriminated against! We lost friends! Family members are upset! They said I disgraced my religion! One thing I do know is that LOVE is a great feeling," McCoughtry wrote.

Earlier this year, McCoughtry was released by Turkish club Fenerbahce for allegedly violating contractual agreements. Reports indicated that the club was irked by an event in November last year where McCoughtry and Elise celebrated their engagement publicly in Turkey along with her Fenerbahce teammates.

Same-sex relationships are not prohibited in Turkey, but The Georgia Voice reported that LGBT people have been experiencing discrimination. McCoughtry revealed on her Instagram post that her previous overseas team tried to convince her to write a letter to deny her engagement with Elise.

"My last overseas team threatened my job if I didn't write a fake letter on social media saying my relationship was a lie," McCoughtry wrote. "But all I know, Love is a great feeling! I understand we all judge and it's in human nature, but the more I speak to God I never feel judgement front he man upstairs, even tho he has all the power too! He tells me to fall, learn, and grow because that's life."

Interestingly, McCoughtry, who is a part of the USA women's basketball team that won the gold medal in the 2010 FIBA World Championship for Women and 2012 London Olympic Games, was asked to react on the decision of Phoenix Mercury star Brittney Griner to come out as gay after finishing her collegiate career at Baylor.

When asked in an interview with The GA Voice if she knew any gay players in the league, McCoughtry said that she does not care about sexual orientation.

"That has nothing to do with who a person is," McCoughtry said of sexual orientation of fellow WNBA players. "To me, I keep it professional. We're teammates. Your personal life is your personal life. Whatever your preference is, I have nothing to do with it and I have nothing against it as well."

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