Borders continued, saying that since the WNBA is suspending play during the Summer Olympics, the league will use that time to work with the players and the players’ union to find a solution going forward.
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Players took to social media to vent their frustrations, and even used their post-game interviews to discuss their displeasure at the fines.
Each team who participated in the protest, was fined $5,000 and players were given a $500 penalty because WNBA rules state that uniforms may not be altered in any way, according to USA Today.
And one by one, the 12 dominant stars that make up the 2016 Women’s National Team filed into Galen Center at the University of Southern California in preparation for tomorrow’s night exhibition game, before heading off to Rio to represent the U.S. in the Summer Olympics.
“We were okay with that, we wanted to support that, but also they can’t pick and choose what initiatives to support and what not to support just because it doesn’t push their agenda”, Liberty guard Tanisha Wright told The New York Times.
The organization’s retraction on the fines and penalties, and Border’s statement comes only after the players refusal to stop protesting. Change starts with us.
“We commend Lisa Borders for recognizing how the players of the WNBA felt and the sensitive time that we’re living in and being willing to re-evaluate their decision”, New York Liberty President Isiah Thomas said.
“I think it was obviously the right thing to do”, said Coach Auriemma, “I was really proud of Tina [Charles] and my former players that stood up”. “When we take off our jerseys and we are out there, we could be next”. People responding to me said you gained a fan, not because of what I do on the court, but the act I did.
“Black lives are in danger each and every day”, explained Mercury center and Olympian, Brittney Griner, “people aren’t aware or don’t want to be aware, so us as athletes need to use our platform to talk about it”. “We have followers now because of who we are, not what we do”. “We made an effort to support them and we were trying to get them to come to the table to have a conversation”.
“Our players are important to us”. We believe in them.
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The WNBA will now go on Olympic break until Friday, Aug. 26. Carmelo Anthony and Al Sharpton also spoke in solitude with the WNBA players for their call to action. “Appreciate our players expressing themselves on matters important to them”.
