A female National Football League player was praised on social media when a photo of her position appeared for the national anthem, while others knelt to protest police brutality and racial injustice in the U.S.
Samantha Murphy, who is a substitute goalkeeper for the North Carolina Courage, was identified as the player who stood during the national anthem on the bench, according to Deseret News. Murphy wore a “Black Lives Matter” shirt during warm-ups.
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Murphy, also known as Samantha Leshnak, allegedly knelt in solidarity with other players, while the public broadcaster at Zions Bank Stadium read a statement honoring victims of racial injustice.
The Courage and its opponents, the Portland Thorns, issued a joint statement.
“We kneel today to protest racial injustice, police brutality, and systemic racism against blacks and people of color in the United States. We love our country and have taken this opportunity to keep it at a higher level. It is our duty to demand that the freedoms and liberties on which this nation was founded extend to all, ”the statement read, according to Deseret News.
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Several players knelt during the national anthem once the NWSL opened the game. The league, which was the first professional team sport to return since the pandemic closed things, expressed support for what the players wanted to do.
“Hopefully today was a powerful statement,” Courage midfielder Sam Mewis said after the game. “It was an emotional moment and I hope the message from both teams comes through clearly.”
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Courage won, 2-1.
Associated Press contributed to this report.
