In the summer of 2020, thousands took to the streets in protest to the police brutality riddling our country with high-profile cases like George Floyd, Brianna Taylor, and Jacob Blake. When the WBNA began its season again in July 2020, the opening game showcased the players wearing shirts that honored Briana Taylor and the Black Lives Matter movement. Before tipoff, there was a twenty-six-second moment of silence in honor of Taylor, who was 26 when police raided her home and killed her. The remainder of the season was dedicated to Briana Taylor, and each week highlighted stories of other Black women who died at the hands of law enforcement.
The WNBA was not pleased with the response to the Black Lives Matter movement and gave three teams and some players hefty fines for honoring victims and the movement for breaking the rules regarding the uniform. The co-owner and Georgia Republican, Kelly Loeffler, shamed the team for their political stance and called for a depoliticalization in sports. Players demanded Loeffer sell her shares to the team, but this request was denied. As a response, players began to campaign for Raphael Warnock, Loeffler’s competitor in the 2020 election, who would go on to win the seat in the Senate.
“We are proud of WNBA players’ engagement and passionate advocacy for non-violent solutions to difficult social issues but expect them to comply with the league’s uniform guidelines.” – WNBA PRESIDENT LISA BORDERS
The response was mixed amongst fans. One side favored Loeffler and her ideas of separating sports and political stances. While on the other hand, people felt the WNBA was treating the players unfairly, especially as the sport is predominately played by African American and believed players should have the freedom to use their platforms to speak their minds. Fans in favor of the players took to social media to express their disdain for the WNBAS response and felt the organization did not care about Black Lives Matter. Players continued their protest despite the backlash from commissioners and the WNBA and as a response, the organization removed all fines from players and teams and then created a social justice council that spearheaded initiatives like anti-transgender legislation, public health, and voting rights.
I find everything the WNBA and the player’s stance set a precedent for how sports should handle political topics like Black Lives Matter. For starters, it is vital to be aware of your players and understand their race can play a role in their position towards societal issues and it is best to speak out than stay silent. I feel this detail alone would have done wonders for the response and resolution of the problem.
