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Mechelle VoepelESPN.com
The WNBA said Thursday that it will continue its season, but it would postpone three games scheduled for Thursday night in the bubble of the league at IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida.
WNBA games Wednesday and Thursday were postponed as part of the protests among professional sports teams in response to the police shooting of Jacob Blake, a Black man, in Kenosha, Wisconsin, on Sunday.
It was not clear when the league would play again, but WNBA executive committee president Nneka Ogwumike of the Los Angeles Sparks indicated it could be Friday. Ogwumike spoke with other members of the executive committee in a round table with ESPN’s Holly Rowe.
“I feel like a group, we decided last night that we want to play,” Ogwumike said Thursday. “Games are planned for that [Friday] and that is what we are ready to do. But that does not come without demands from players to strengthen our voices in more ways than when we came here. We realize that work is not easy, but we also understand that work is never done. “
Thursday’s WNBA games that were postponed matches with the Chicago Sky against the Indiana Fever, the Dallas Wings against the New York Liberty, and the Las Vegas Aces against the Seattle Storm.
Three games were postponed Wednesday: the Atlanta Dream vs. the Washington Mystics, the Los Angeles Sparks vs. the Minnesota Lynx, and the Connecticut Sun vs. the Phoenix Mercury.
“It is important to note that this is not a strike, this is not a boycott,” Ogwumike said. “This is affirming a day of reflection, a day of informed action and mobilization. We have re-assigned to the justice movement, the platform for our lawyer, and the ‘Say Her Name’ campaign.”
The WNBA has made social justice the primary platform for its 2020 season, with players bearing the name of Breonna Taylor on the backs of their jerseys. Taylor, a black woman killed by Louisville police after a no-knock raid on her home in March, and other women killed or injured in police shootings have been a focus of the WNBA and the “Say Her Name” campaign, which seeks to raise awareness of them.
The WNBA players’ first decision not to play Wednesday’s games was followed by the announcement that the three NBA games were postponed that night after the Milwaukee Bucks did not take the floor against the Orlando Magic.
“We had the opportunity to be a part of history,” Ogwumike said of Wednesday’s decision. “One thing we all agreed on is that what we do, we do it together. We’ve always had our own backs. At the moment, it looks different for everyone. For us, this is how it is. looks.
“It’s not new to us. We live this every day. Since I’m a WNBA player, we’ve always worked in unison. Not just the players, but the staff. We want to serve as an example for our communities.”
Blake was shot seven times Sunday by police as he tried to enter the side door of the driver of his car with three of his children inside. Video of the shooting was circulated on social media, prompting more protests and causing or speaking out for more athletes.
Ogwumike called on Wisconsin Attorney General Josh Kaul to investigate the officers involved in Blake’s shooting. She also called on Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron to arrest the police officers involved in Taylor’s death.
“Let’s not seek justice for Sandra Bland, Michelle Cusseaux, Shelly Frey, Corryn Gaines, India Kager, Kayla Moore, Layleen Polanco, Michelle Shirley and other black and brown women,” Ogwumike said. “If you see or hear, and you understand humanity in the movement for Black life, and you recognize that your voice is important, then do not remain idle. Ask your leaders to step up and take real action. Do something today. “
Seattle’s Sue’s Bird, also a member of the executive committee, called on people to vote.
“As important as it is to protest in the streets, to stop energy,” Bird said, “we need to take that energy to the polls.”
The WNBA is a bit halfway through a regular season of 22 games, which is scheduled to end on Sept. 12. This will be followed by conventional play-offs: single elimination games for the first and second rounds, then best of five series for the semi-finals and finals.
There have been three games a day most days since the WNBA’s season began on July 25th.
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