The WNBA and its union agreed to submit the names of women who died in connection with police action or alleged racial violence, such as Sandra Bland, Breonna Taylor and Vanessa Guillén, when the league resumes play this month.
WNBA players will also wear warm-up shirts that say “Black Lives Matter” on the front and “Say Her Name” on the back. “Black Lives Matter” will also appear in the IMG Academy Courts in Bradenton, Florida.
The movements, announced Monday after ESPN first reported the news, are part of a joint platform to promote social justice called “The Justice Movement” when the WNBA begins its season.
As part of this initiative, the WNBA will form a Social Justice Council that will be led by players Layshia Clarendon, Sydney Colson, Breanna Stewart, Tierra Ruffin-Pratt, A’ja Wilson and Satou Sabally, among others. Council advisers include Alicia Garza, founder of the Black Futures Lab, political activist and co-founder of Black Lives Matter; Carolyn DeWitt, CEO of Rock the Vote; and Beverly Bond, the founder and CEO of BLACK GIRLS ROCK!
The Social Justice Council will create community conversations, virtual round tables, player-produced podcasts, and other activations to address the inequality, implicit bias, and systemic racism that has targeted black and brown communities.
The players have insisted that the fight for racial equality and social justice be a central part of the NBA’s return to the game and the new season of the WNBA. Several NBA players considered skipping the NBA restart to focus on social justice issues. Several WNBA players, including Renee Montgomery of the Atlanta Dream and Natasha Cloud of the Washington Mystics, are sitting outside the WNBA season to focus on social justice.
Minnesota Lynx star Maya Moore was not involved in the previous season while advocating for the release of a black man who she said had been wrongfully convicted of theft. Jonathan Irons was released last week after 23 years in prison.
Breonna Taylor was shot dead by police in March at her home in Louisville, Kentucky. Lonita Baker, Taylor’s family lawyer, said she first heard from Angel McCoughtrey, the star of the Las Vegas Aces, who played at the University of Louisville. Soon after, Terri Jackson, WNBPA executive director, reached out and began formulating plans on how the league and its players could work to honor Taylor.
“Breonna’s mother [Tamika Palmer] It was a great honor for the players who wanted to do this in honor of Breonna and all the other women killed in police custody, “said Baker.” And also the proceeds from the sale of the shirts will go to the Breonna Taylor Foundation
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