In 2016, in the wake of the killings of Alton Sterling and Philando Castile by police, it was WNBA players – particularly those from the Minnesota Lynx, Indiana Fever and New York Liberty that led the way in on-court demonstrations which furthered the conversation towards change.
Now, after another senseless police shooting of an unarmed Black man – Jacob Blake in Kenosha, Wisconsin, WNBA players have walked the walk again.
— Washington Mystics (@WashMystics) August 26, 2020
“We’re not just basketball players. We’re so much more than that.”
Ariel Atkins with a powerful statement on the unified decision to not play tonight. #BlackLivesMatter pic.twitter.com/Eg96KMqsFh
— Washington Mystics (@WashMystics) August 26, 2020
Center @E_Williams_1 reads statement on @espn as the representative for all @WNBA players. Tonight’s games have been cancelled. pic.twitter.com/xDz4uCQSiD
— Atlanta Dream (@AtlantaDream) August 26, 2020
— Los Angeles Sparks (@LASparks) August 27, 2020
STOP. KILLING. BLACK. PEOPLE.#ChangeHasNoOffseason pic.twitter.com/TD4RFLFltj
— Los Angeles Sparks (@LASparks) August 27, 2020
Demand Justice pic.twitter.com/D7YMavDj68
— Los Angeles Sparks (@LASparks) August 27, 2020
Black. Lives. Matter.
✊🏿✊🏾✊🏽✊🏼✊🏻 pic.twitter.com/PJXoVSOR06
— Los Angeles Sparks (@LASparks) August 26, 2020
Demand justice.
— Minnesota Lynx (@minnesotalynx) August 27, 2020
— Minnesota Lynx (@minnesotalynx) August 27, 2020
On behalf of our players: pic.twitter.com/H43d56eeyK
— Phoenix Mercury (@PhoenixMercury) August 27, 2020
CHANGE CAN’T WAIT pic.twitter.com/z57sledGSr
— Connecticut Sun (@ConnecticutSun) August 27, 2020
The courage and conviction that athletes of the NBA & WNBA have shown over the last 24 hours is America at its best.
They’ve seen something that’s not right, not just, not fair, and they’re taking action to stop it. #goodtrouble
— Hillary Clinton (@HillaryClinton) August 27, 2020
After games were boycotted Wednesday night, the entire @wnba bubble organized and participated in a candlelight vigil. People were encouraged to speak their heart. They are in this together. pic.twitter.com/4MZj64dBlf
— Holly Rowe (@sportsiren) August 27, 2020
I commend the players on the @Bucks for standing up for what they believe in, coaches like @DocRivers, and the @NBA and @WNBA for setting an example. It’s going to take all our institutions to stand up for our values. pic.twitter.com/rUGETgAt7P
— Barack Obama (@BarackObama) August 27, 2020
It takes monumental courage to stand up for what you believe in. NBA and WNBA players, keep standing up and demanding change. https://t.co/CRNbfoH1wL
— Kamala Harris (@KamalaHarris) August 27, 2020
Three games set for Wednesday were postponed as the league and its players were part of a multi-sport strike which started with the Milwaukee Bucks not playing its Game 5 playoff game at the NBA’s Orlando bubble against the Orlando Magic.
— Milwaukee Bucks (@Bucks) August 26, 2020
The Milwaukee Bucks have boycotted Game 5 of their First Round series vs. the Orlando Magic this afternoon.
The team provided the following statement: pic.twitter.com/ul5rMlitlS
— Milwaukee Bucks (@Bucks) August 26, 2020
“It’s amazing to me why we keep loving this country and this country does not love us back.”
Doc Rivers delivers an emotional message on the police shooting of Jacob Blake. pic.twitter.com/A0T26OfsDG
— NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT) August 26, 2020
The three WNBA games scheduled for Wednesday were Washington Mystics vs. Atlanta Dream, Los Angeles Sparks vs. Minnesota Lynx and Connecticut Sun vs. Phoenix Mercury.
Thursday’s trifecta of WNBA contests – Chicago Sky vs. Indiana Fever, Dallas Wings vs. New York Liberty (Lib’s annual UNITY game) and Las Vegas Aces vs. Seattle Storm were also postponed.
THIS. https://t.co/SXQFRUg44l
— Cheryl Reeve (@LynxCoachReeve) August 27, 2020
“This is not a strike. This is not a boycott. This is affirmatively a day of reflection.”@Nnemkadi30 reads a statement from the WNBA players: (🎥 @espnW ) pic.twitter.com/rZIxmYJeid
— ChristyWintersScott (@ChristyWScott51) August 27, 2020
— Seattle Mariners (@Mariners) August 27, 2020
Eventually the entire slate of NBA games for that day was postponed and there is ongoing talk as to if its entire remainder of the season will be canceled as well.
The protest then eventually spread rapidly to other sports.
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) August 27, 2020
From the players of the Milwaukee Brewers and the Cincinnati Reds: pic.twitter.com/qkhH4AmBKm
— Milwaukee Brewers (@Brewers) August 26, 2020
— Atlanta United FC (@ATLUTD) August 27, 2020
“Soccer takes a back seat. Quite frankly, I don’t really care about what happened on the field tonight.”@jalil_anibaba4 and @DaxMcCarty11 speak on tonight’s events in @MLS and around the country.
Full press conference: https://t.co/jf9v1X0Drw#BlackLivesMatter pic.twitter.com/PYxfPXqgY1
— Nashville SC (@NashvilleSC) August 27, 2020
— NaomiOsaka大坂なおみ (@naomiosaka) August 27, 2020
— Major League Soccer (@MLS) August 26, 2020
“It’s more than sports.”@Brewers reliever Josh Hader weighs in on the @Bucks boycott. pic.twitter.com/flGuRdTOJu
— FOX Sports Wisconsin (@fswisconsin) August 26, 2020
— San Diego Padres (@Padres) August 27, 2020
“We have to support our players.” @WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert discusses the players’ decision to not play tonight. pic.twitter.com/jOv23e4CGQ
— NBA TV (@NBATV) August 27, 2020
Black Lives Matter.
