J-Speaks: The WNBA and NBA Saying Her Name

One big question that was being asked about sports returning, specifically the National Basketball Association (NBA) and in a quiet way the Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) is would it take away from the momentum in the fight for social justice and police brutality against minority communities? If what was demonstrated over the weekend when the WNBA tipped off it’s 23^rd season and what the NBA and its player have done during their press conferences in the lead up to their restart, the fight for social justice and police brutality will continue.

The 2020 WNBA Season from IMG Academy in Bradenton, FL began with social justice and police brutality front and center during its three-game slate on Saturday (Seattle Storm versus New York Liberty; Los Angeles Sparks versus Phoenix Mercury; Indiana Fever versus Washington Mystics) and three-game slate on Sunday (Connecticut Sun versus Minnesota Lynx; Chicago Sky versus Las Vegas Aces; and Dallas Wings versus Atlanta Dream) where in all six games the players from both squads and their respective coaching staffs wore black (short or long sleeve shirts) with “Black Lives Matter” on the front, which also displayed on the court, and “Say Her Name” on the back in reference to Breonna Taylor, a 26-year-old Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) of Louisville, KY who was killed in her own home by plain closed police officers, who shot into her home while she was sleeping on Mar. 13 in a no knock warrant execution. On the left sleeve of the shirts consisted of the Nike, WNBA and WNBPA respective logos.  

Both teams also went back to their respective locker rooms when the playing of the national anthem occurred. 

Before the start of the contest between the Storm and the Liberty, which Seattle won 87-71, Liberty veteran guard Layshia Clarendon in addressing the crowd before tip-off said that the WNBA is “dedicating” the 2020 season to Breonna Taylor, whose murders have yet to be arrested now 133 days after the fact. “Breonna Taylor was dedicated and committed to uplifting everyone around her.”

The former Sun guard added the WNBA is also dedicating this season to the “Say Her Name” campaign, which is committed to saying the names and fighting for justice for African American women who very often are forgotten in the fight for social justice.

“Black women, who are so often forgotten in the fight for social justice. Who do not have people marching in the streets for them,” Clarendon said, adding, “We will say her name: Sandra Bland, Atatiana Jefferson, Dominique Rem’mie Fells and Breonna Taylor-We will be a voice for the voiceless.

That was followed by a moment of silence for 26 seconds, which was the age Ms. Taylor was when were life was taken. During that 26 seconds of silence, the players and coaches had their backs turned where those that were in their playing uniforms had on the backs of their jerseys Breonna Taylor names on the bottom of their last names, while some of the players and the coaching staffs had their black shirts with their backs turned that again had on the back “Say Her Name.”

The oppression of black women is unfortunately something that is not new to our nation. The late great Malcolm X once said, “The most disrespected woman in America is the Black woman. The most unprotected person in America is the Black woman. The most neglected person in America is the black woman.”

That is why the WNBA and WNBPA have as mentioned dedicated this season to social justice where all the players will wear special uniforms that will feature the names of women who lost their lives from police brutality and racial violence like Ms. Taylor.

The players association also late last week came out with hooded shirts that are available for sail that have on it, “We Are Breonna Taylor,” with all the proceeds going to the Breonna Taylor foundation, which is in association with her mother Tamika Palmer.

At the forefront of making sure Ms. Taylor’s name remains in the subconsciousness of our nation in our fight for social justice has been Former Dream All-Star guard, Angel McCoughtry, now with the Aces, who said in what this season is about for her, “I’m asking for justice. So, this year when I play, I’ll have Breonna Taylor’s name on my back.”

Along with being an EMT, Taylor in a conversation with her mother Ms. Palmer, ESPN’s Holly Rowe learned that her daughter loved basketball and played the game in middle and high school.

She also said that her daughter had a smile that could light up a room and was a “beautiful power of force for the world.”

“When these WNBA players reached out to me to honor her in this way, I felt loved. I’m amazed that these women will say her name and support me in this fight for justice.”

The idea to have names like Taylor on the back of the players jerseys by McCoughtry came from hearing from some players in the NBA that returning to play would disrupt the moment generated in the fight for social justice.

“I was like, ‘I don’t think it’s a distraction,’” McCoughtry said. “Let’s try to use our platform to try to fight and advocate.”  

It was here that McCoughtry and her business partner came up with the idea for the players to have on their jerseys the names of those who lost their lives to police brutality like Taylor, who as mentioned is from the city where McCoughtry played collegiately at Louisville.

McCoughtry said to Rowe that it was Taylor’s name the WNBA players should have on the back of their jerseys as a part of the “Say Her Name” campaign, which she got the blessing of Taylor’s mother Ms. Palmer and her family.

The players in their between first and second quarter interviews of their season-opening games on ESPN and ABC on Saturday and Sunday with Rowe made sure to mentioned Breonna Taylor’s name and why it is important to keep her name in the consciousness of the viewers watching.

The newest addition to the Mercury Skylar Diggins-Smith said to row how special it is to be back on the court after all the uncertainty of if the 2020 season would be played, and how thankful she was to wake up another day, Breonna Taylor is not here, while being able to get the 2020 WNBA season underway is great, it is just a game at the end of the day.

The fact that Ms. Taylor is dead and that her killers have not been brought to justice in as mentioned over 130 days have yet to be charged is inexcusable.

“We’re calling for the four police officers involved to be arrested for the murder of Breonna Taylor and we just hope that we make her family proud and do her justice this year,” Diggins-Smith said to Rowe.

The Aces’ sharp-shooter Kayla McBride echoed those same sentiments by saying in between quarters of their contest versus the Sky on Sunday to Rowe that the WNBA is playing this season for “something bigger,” social justice, Taylor, police brutality.

“This is a lifestyle. This is our livelihood, and we’re trying to portray that each and every game,” McBride said. “I’m so proud to be a part of this league, these women, what we stand for, and we’re just going to continue to be out there and play for them.”

In her presser before her team’s season opening 99-76 win against the Mercury, WNBA champion, two-time WNBA MVP, five-time All-Star, and Turner Sports basketball analyst Candace Parker of the Sparks said that her or any one of her teammates or WNBA peers could have been Breonna Taylor, and why they wore Taylor’s name on the back of their jerseys over the weekend, they represent so many African Americans, especially African American women that have had their lives taken.

While it has been a matter of real importance that justice comes to those who have taken the likes of most recently George Floyd, Rayshard Brooks, Ahmaud Arbery and Tamir Rice, Michael Brown, Trayvon Martin, Eric Garner, Stephon Clark and many more African American men, the likes of Michelle Cusseaux, Tanisha Anderson, Natasha McKenna and the aforementioned Breonna Taylor deserve to have their names said in peaceful protests and right at the forefront of who needs social justice.

The NBA players have been doing their part in their bubble in Orlando in the lead up during their press conferences keeping the pressure on the authorities in Louisville to arrets the officers who shot and killed Ms. Taylor unnecessarily.

“I’m going to take this time to give my condolences to the family of the Taylors,” is what Los Angeles Clippers All-Star forward Paul George said. “We’re going to again, keep this fight going, and us our platform to stand up for those that can’t stand anymore.”

Denver Nuggets forward Jerami Grant used his presser to say how the killers of Ms. Taylor are still free and need to be arrested.

“Equality is demanded and Black Lives Matter,” were the words from Boston Celtics’ swingman Jaylen Brown. “Breonna Taylor is an example of a Black life who was taken because of, you know, how the system has been laid out, and we’re going to continue to protest.”

Brown’s teammate Marcus Smart said that his answer for every question he is asked by the press will be, “Justice for Breonna Taylor.”

Starting guard for the Portland Trail Blazers CJ McCollum said in his presser that Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron is in position to arrest the cops responsible for the murder of Ms. Taylor, which has yet to happen.

Philadelphia 76ers forward Tobias Harris stated that as well how he and his NBA peers will keep the pressure on Attorney General Cameron to arrest Louisville Metro Police Department (LMPD) Officers Jonathan Mattingly and Myles Cosgrove, and LMPD detective Brett Hankison, who are responsible for Ms. Taylor’s death. 

The biggest that expressed the important of Ms. Taylor getting justice for being murdered came from four-time Kia MVP and three-time NBA champion LeBron James of the Los Angeles Lakers, who said after the Lakers’ scrimmage versus the Mavericks last Thursday, “The same energy we had on the floor is the same energy we have towards having justice for Breonna Taylor, and her family, and that’s the energy we bring to the game. That’s just who we are.”

James also said it is just awful how the U.S. and the world needed to see the George Floyd video of him being killed by Minneapolis, MN police officers how out of control law enforcement has been towards minorities. On top of that, the officers that killed Taylor were at the wrong place, and the suspect they were looking for was already in custody, which James said was “not okay.”

The peaceful protest and the explosion of frustration that has been displayed across the county since the death of Mr. Floyd James said is not a movement, and that society has not had a “damn movement” for minorities.

“When you black, it’s not a movement, it’s a lifestyle,” he said. “A lot of people can’t even have that conversation of actually looking someone in the eye and telling them how they feel. And a lot of people when they tell you how they feel, I have to be able to accept your response, no matter if you tell me what I want to hear or not. We’ll end this with justice for Breonna Taylor.”  

In a essay narrated during intermission of the “Storm versus the Liberty,” Sparks All-Star forward and ESPN basketball analyst Chiney Ogwumike said that the mission of the WNBA and the Women’s National Basketball Players Association is to be an aid to “fix a broken system that is unwavering.”

She added, “We are informed and united. Our voices are finally being heard. Now more than ever, we need to amplify and empower Black voices.

While this movement for social justice and police brutality by the players of the WNBA might be new to the public, this is something they have sunk their teeth and collective minds into since 2016, which is when former San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick began kneeling during the playing of the national anthem to peacefully protest police brutality occurring in minority communities, which cost him his NFL career.

On Sept. 26, 2017 before the start of Game 1 between the Los Angeles Sparks and Minnesota Lynx, the Sparks players left the court before the playing of the national anthem, while the Lynx players stayed on the hardwood of Williams Arena on the campus of the University of Minnesota.

Not too long after that, four of the Lynx perennial All-Stars, who led them to their four WNAB titles in the last decade in now former forward Rebekkah Brunson, Hutchinson, MN native and now head coach of the Lady Golden Gophers basketball squad Lindsay Whalen, now Sparks guard Simone Augustus and 2014 WNBA MVP and three-time All-Star Game MVP Maya Moore held a press conference to address police brutality wearing black short sleeve shirts that said, “Change Starts With Us: Justice and Accountability” on the front and on the back the names Philando Castile and Alton Sterling and “Black Lives Matter.”

“What is happening is not new. Racism is unjust and very real,” Brunson said at the presser.

Moore, the 2013 WNBA Finals MVP, seven-time All-WNBA selection and two-time WNBA All-Defensive Second Team selection added at the presser, “This is a human issue, and we need to speak out for change together.”

Many WNBA teams have impactful statements about the inequality and racism that many minorities and women, especially African American and minority women have faced in this nation for centuries from locking arms during the national anthem instead of standing at attention. The Connecticut Sun one time wore black shirts during warmups that had on the front “EQUALITY.”

As important as making statements wearing shirts stating the injustice or the names of people who lost their lives at the hands of law enforcement or Caucasians that act as if they are law enforcement, it takes bold action for real change to take place.

Moore felt propelled to take action sitting out last season, as well as this season at the Zenith of her career to focus all her energy in the cause for social justice.

The future Hall of Famer said that the decision to put her career on hold was to “prioritize” the things she felt were more urgent, and how interesting it is that two years later the nation and really the entire world is “literally” being forced to take on the issues of social justice, police brutality and mass incarceration.

“We need to be people before players right now and just say something because we’re hurting,” Moore said. “We have a chance to really take this time and energy to re-create something more beautiful. We can actually do something about what’s going on.”

“I just really wanted to show up for things that I felt were mattering more than being a professional athlete.”

Moore’s journey through the criminal justice system was an eye-opening experience that really tested her faith in people and the institutions of our country where people and leaders who have been entrusted to serve and protect are the ones who are oppressing minorities.

During this process though, the former University of Connecticut Lady Husky stayed focused thanks to her belief and character, and the innocence of her friend Jonathan Irons.

That faith was rewarded on Mar. 9 when in the Missouri Western District Court of Appeals, the judged overturned Mr. Irons’ conviction and he was released to his family on July 1, being greeted by his family and Moore, who all wore masks because of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) Global Pandemic.

“One of the most rewarding things I’ve been able to do in that is to show and be present, and advocate for Jonathan and for the general cause of it really comes down to is dignifying people and saying, ‘There’s no one that’s beneath getting justice.”

“I try to spread the world. Tell people about these real human beings that are going through these realistic situations in ways we can examine our justice system, and not assume justice is being served all the time.”

Moore also said that minorities who want the justice system to be fair to them regardless of their past is the same as athletes wanting to play a game where it is called fairly. Fans do not want to watch a game that is fixed one team’s favor because there is bias against another squad. That is what is being asked by many minority communities who have seen their families torn apart, some for generations by an unfair and unjust justice system. They want their truth to be shown and to be treated with dignity and respect.

That is why several notable WNBA players like Renee Montgomery of the Dream, and Natasha Cloud of the defending WNBA champion Mystics have decided to sit out this season to put their respective energies towards social justice initiatives such as education reform and fighting voter suppression.

“This is bigger than basketball. We’re not only athletes. When we take that uniform off, we’re black,” Cloud said at a peaceful protest in Washington D.C. in the early part of the summer.

Another step the WNBA has taken in the fight for social justice is forming the Social Justice Council, which consists of the aforementioned Clarendon, Sydney Colson of the Sky, Tierra Ruffin-Pratt of the Sparks, rookie Satou Sabally of the Wings, Brenna Stewart of the Storm, and A’ja Wilson of the Aces.

The impressive part of this council is that its formation was totally done by the players and the league is providing them the necessary resources to give this council everything it needs to educate, amplify, and execute a course of action in the fight for social justice.

The players have will also be voicing their causes for social justice and equality on their shoes on gameday this season through an initiative, “My Kicks My Cause.”

All-Star center for the Mercury Brittney Griner in her team’s tilt on Saturday afternoon versus the Sparks on ABC had on her shoes “Pride,” “Equality for the LGBTQ community and “Black Lives Matter.”

Her teammate Brianna Turner had on her sneakers “Black Lives Matter” and “Black Votes Matter.”

One person who is not surprised at how the WNBA has dived in head on with their message around the cause for social justice and helping to create real social change is former ESPN basketball analyst, former color analyst for the Washington Wizards for NBC Sports Washington and the new head coach of Duke University Kara Lawson.

The former Tennessee Lady Volunteer, who spent 13 seasons in the WNBA with the then Sacramento Monarchs, Sun, and Mystics, winning a title with the Monarchs in 2005 said that the actions taken by the players of the WNBA is something that comes natural to them.

That they are women from diverse backgrounds from across the earth who are passionate about communities, especially minority communities. That passion has been manifested in a multitude of ways.

“But in this moment now with social justice, with racial justice, with the need for leadership, and the need for effective leadership, what better people than the women of the WNBA to share their voices. To show case their platform, and to just lead us in that way,” Lawson, who was named the new head coach of the Lady Blue Devils said to Robinson on Saturday during the WNBA Halftime Report, presented by State Farm.

“So, I’m very proud to be a 13-year veteran of the WNBA. It’s something I hold very near and dear to my heart, and it makes me proud as an alum of the league to see those players and those women leading the way and giving a voice to the voice less.”

Brooklyn Nets All-Star point guard, who along with James helped lead the Cleveland Cavaliers to their first NBA title in franchise history in 2016 has committed $1.5 million through the creation of the Ky Empowerment Initiative, for all female empowerment and equity to support some or the aforementioned WNBA players who opted out the 2020 season because of the previously mentioned global pandemic.

The Coronavirus (COVID-19) Pandemic coupled with the injustices that minorities have faced for over four centuries being brought to the forefront has displayed the incredible divide we had for far too long in our country, and even the world.

When the WNBA put a plan in place to begin their season at IMG Academy in Bradenton, FL and the NBA put their plan in place to restart their season at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex in Orlando, FL, there was a feeling that would take away the incredible momentum towards the movement for social justice.

So far though, the WNBA and the NBA have been whenever players and coaches have gotten in front of a camera or microphone about keeping the conversation about social justice and police brutality at the forefront, especially when it comes to getting justice for Breonna Taylor.

The hope is that this momentum and pressure will continue and lead to real change in our country for the next generation of minorities in this country, who are hungry for a better world where they can be themselves and not think that the color of their skin is the determining factor if they will live or die.

Information and quotations are courtesy of 7/23/2020 6:30 p.m. “WNBA Season Preview,” with Ryan Ruocco, Rebecca Lobo, LaChina Robinson, and Holly Rowe; 7/24/2020 3 p.m. edition of “NBA: The Jump” on ESPN with Rachel Nichols, Jorge Sedano, Amin Elhassan,  and Richard Jefferson; 7/24/2020 8 p.m. “NBA on TNT/Bleacher Report: The Arena,” presented by Tractor Supply Co. with Cari Champion, Draymond Green, and Charles Barkley; 7/25/2020 12 p.m. on ESPN and 3 p.m. on ABC WNBA Tip-Off, presented by AT&T “Seattle Storm versus New York Liberty and “Los Angeles Sparks versus Phoenix Mercury,” 7/26/2020 12 p.m. and 3 p.m. “Connecticut Sun versus Minnesota Lynx” and “Chicago Sky versus Las Vegas Aces” with Ryan Ruocco, Rebecca Lobo, and Holly Rowe, with the WNBA Halftime Report, presented by State Farm, with LaChina Robinson; scores of games from 7/25/2020 and 7/26/2020 from WNBA app; 7/27/2020 11 p.m. edition of NBATV’s “Gametime,” with Ro Parrish and Sam Mitchell; https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Candace_Parker; https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kara_Lawson; and  https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shooting_of_Breonna_Taylor;