The Indiana Fever’s playoff matchup against the Phoenix Mercury concluded with the Mercury eliminating Indiana from the playoffs and it being Tamika Catchings’ final WNBA game. Prior to the game, the Fever made a major social statement.
The entire Fever team went to one knee during the playing of the National Anthem before the game.
The form of protest among athletes of kneeling during the National Anthem that began with the NFL’s Colin Kaepernick has since spread throughout the sports landscape—and has even included the Mercury’s Kelsey Bone.
The gesture also got the support of Lisa Borders, WNBA president.
Standing for an anthem is a sign of respect and a demonstration of unity across many cultures throughout the world. The call to action is for all of us to invest time and resources to help rebuild and strengthen our communities. And we have been actively working with the players on this next impactful effort.
–Lisa Borders
The Black Lives Matter movement is once again in the forefront of everyone’s consciousness after the officer-involved shootings of Terence Crutcher in Tulsa and Keith Lamont Scott in Charlotte.
By: Akiem Bailum (@AkiemBailum on Twitter, Instagram)
