The New York Liberty and Seattle Storm made a statement before the WNBA season began Saturday at the IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida.
Both teams left the court and returned to their locker rooms during the pre-game national anthem game to protest racial and social injustice, then held a 26-second moment of silence in memory of Breonna Taylor, the 26-year-old certified. EMT who was shot dead by plainclothes police officers while sleeping in her Louisville apartment in the early hours of March 13.
“We are dedicating this season to Breonna Taylor, an outstanding EMT who was killed over 130 days ago at her home,” said Liberty point guard Layshia Clarendon mid-court alongside Storm star Breanna Stewart. “Breonna Taylor was dedicated and committed to elevating everyone around here.
“We are also dedicating this season to the ‘Say your name’ campaign, a campaign committed to saying the names and fighting for justice for black women: Black women are often forgotten in this fight for justice, they have no people Marching the streets for them.
“We will say his name. Sandra Bland. Atatiana Jefferson. Dominique Remy falls. Breonna Taylor. We will be a voice for those who have no voice. “
Taylor’s full name appeared on the back of both teams’ shirts during Saturday’s game as part of a campaign honoring women victims of police violence, including Sandra Bland and Vanessa Guillén.
Stewart, the most valuable player in the regular season and final in 2018, led Storm to an 87-71 victory, finishing with 18 points, eight rebounds and four steals in her first WNBA game since helping Seattle win the 2018 championship.
The 2020 WNBA season, delayed and shortened by the coronavirus pandemic, will be played in a bubble at the IMG Academy.
Stewart missed all of last season after ripping his Achilles tendon while playing for his team at Russian club Dynamo Kursk during the Euroleague Women’s Championship game in April 2019.
Jewell Loyd scored 14 points and Sue Bird, who also missed the 2019 season due to a knee injury, added 11 points, hit 3-of-5 from a three-point range and dished out five assists for Seattle.
Sabrina Ionescu had 12 points, six rebounds and four assists in her WNBA debut. Ionescu, the No. 1 pick in the April draft, was 4-of-17 shooting, including 0-of-8 from a three-point range, and committed four turnovers.
Clarendon led Liberty with 20 points.
Loyd tripled and then converted a three-point play before Stewart made a layup to go 34-26 and the Storm led the rest of the way.
Jordin Canada scored six points during a 14-4 run to open the fourth quarter that gave Storm his biggest advantage when he found Stewart for a triple that capped the start and went 80-61 with 4:44 left.
New York’s Kia Nurse left the game early in the second quarter due to an ankle injury and did not return.
