News & Lifestyle, Off The Court

A WNBA player’s link to the Orlando nightclub

This past weekend, one of the most horrific events in American history occurred as a mass shooting took place at the Pulse nightclub in Orlando, Florida. It left 50 killed and another 53 injured in what is listed as the worst mass shooting in U.S. history.

The New York Liberty’s Shavonte Zellous is not only openly gay, but a native of Orlando. In a post on The Players’ Tribune, she described how close Pulse is to where her mother lives as well as how close it is to where she graduated from Jones High School.

Another harrowing detail—her sister was originally on her way to the Pulse nightclub the Saturday night the shooting occurred. She had received a call from her boss who was asking her to cover a morning shift at her job.

After she said yes, she went home and went to sleep.

Two of Zellous’ sister’s friends were killed in the shooting and another is listed in critical condition.

When we hung up, I imagined all the phones, tucked into the victims’ pockets, ringing and buzzing with unanswered calls and texts. I thought about families, friends, and loved ones on the other end of the line, hanging on to the desperate hope that someone would answer.

–Zellous in the Players’ Tribune.

This detail has been cited in various news reports as one of the most shocking details of the calamity that occurred at Pulse—the eerie and heartbreaking sound of the victims’ phones ringing with those on the other end clinging to a chance that their loved one will answer.

She wrote that the shooting had taken something away from her community—the ability to express themselves freely in a place where they are supposed to feel free and uninhibited. Zellous also mentioned that this has changed the way she views her hometown.

When I see Orlando on the news now—the downtown skyline, the streets I ran—I don’t recognize it. Instead, it’s a funhouse version where everything has been turned upside down. It’s distorted and foreign.

It is always a tearjerker to see stories like this on television, read about them in the newspapers or blogs or on social media or hear about them on the radio. There is another dimension to it when you find out that this is happening in your own hometown.

And an even bigger dimension when either family or friends of family could be involved. Zellous’ piece at The Players’ Tribune is a must read and it has been heartwarming to see the outpouring of support she has received since sharing her story.

WNBA’s response to the Orlando shooting

The WNBA has been an organization that has primarily preached the virtues of tolerance, acceptance and inclusion. It has showed once again as the league, its teams, personnel and players have wrapped their arms around Orlando as well as the LGBT community.

The league is also celebrating Pride Week this week which makes said virtues all the more relevant.

The Twitter accounts of the Phoenix Mercury and Seattle Storm are adorned in the rainbow colors with the Storm’s featuring its logo behind an outline of the United States in said colors and with a message saying, “More Love. Less Hate.”

Last night as the New York Liberty faced the Dallas Wings at Madison Square Garden, a moment of silence was held to honor the victims of the Orlando shooting—as has been done at other games since the tragedy. A picture of the outside of the Garden being adorned in the rainbow colors was also shared over Twitter and retweeted by the Liberty’s official account.

It has always been an organization that has taken the lead on issues such as this—and is displaying exactly why once again.



By: Akiem Bailum (@AkiemBailum on Twitter, Instagram)

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