When Renee Montgomery decided to sit out the 2020 WNBA season and not venture to the IMG Academy wubble in Bradenton, she tweeted that it was because of bringing attention to social justice issues.
She was correct. She not only became a powerful voice for Black Lives Matter, Montgomery urged as many people as possible to vote in the 2020 presidential election – and is doing so again for the January 5 Georgia senate runoffs.
Georgia flipped blue for Joe Biden and Kamala Harris last month.
As for Montgomery, her sitting out the season was likely a glimpse into her next act after basketball – which is why she was recognized by Bloomberg Businessweek as part of its Bloomberg 50 for 2020.
Bloomberg 50: WBNA player Renee Montgomery decided to sit out the season—and instead raise $5 million for Morris Brown College https://t.co/OmYd8gWdCC via @BW
— Bloomberg (@business) December 4, 2020
One thing Montgomery that is a sure glimpse into what life after the W has in store for her – helping Morris Brown College, one of Atlanta’s signature HBCUs, reclaim its accreditation after a 2002 scandal which its president at the time was charged with defrauding students.
She, along with Natasha Cloud, Layshia Clarendon and countless others in the WNBA became agents of changes throughout the summer when renewed attention to systemic racism became part of the mainstream consciousness.
God is working in my life. Thank you @BW 🙏🏾 #Bloomberg50 https://t.co/nY3pxSBXn1
— Renee Montgomery (@ReneeMontgomery) December 3, 2020
That was not the only major move Montgomery was announced to have made.
When the G-League’s College Park Skyhawks were announced as the new affiliate for the Atlanta Hawks, Montgomery was revealed to be part of the broadcast team for Peachtree TV. The Skyhawks play at Gateway Center Arena – the same home court as the Atlanta Dream.
Fox Sports Southeast – which will be Bally Sports Southeast after Sinclair rebrands the Fox Sports regional sports channels, announced it will broadcast the first half of the Hawks season with Montgomery as part of the team with Bob Rathbun, Dominique Wilkins and company.
This Broadcast Squad is looking 🔥. Excited to be further ingrained in the Atlanta Basketball community. There’s been a lot of chatter about what the @ATLHawks will look like this year. Im very optimistic and can’t wait to see how the team develops. Let’s get it! #BetOnWomen https://t.co/sEeQcD9Irf
— Renee Montgomery (@ReneeMontgomery) December 8, 2020
Watch the newest members of our @HawksOnFSSE broadcast team @ReneeMontgomery and @Kelly_Crull preview highly anticipated 2020-21 @ATLHawks season ⤵️ https://t.co/gqqsELdgM7
— FOX Sports South (@FOXSportsSouth) December 8, 2020
