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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The New York Liberty, Phoenix Mercury, Indiana Fever and their players were fined for wearing shirts during warmups in response to the recent deaths of Alton Sterling and Philando Castile, and five Dallas police officers killed during a protest rally.
Earlier this week, the WNBA announced they were planning to fine three teams and any others who planned to wear black warm-up shirts that promoted non-violent actions against African Americans and police officers. Liberty player Tanisha Wright felt that it was “unfortunate that the WNBA has fined us and not supported its players”, according to The New York Times. By boycotting their opinions on the game, it made the league look uncomfortable until this decision.
The WNBA will now go on Olympic break until Friday, Aug. 26.
Charles was happy that the league rescinded the fines.
Sharpton added that the ruling was “unacceptable” – leading to a potential rally for the fined players. She has donated her entire salary this year to her charity – Hopey’s Heart Foundation – so the withdrawn fine means more money that will help buy automated external defibrillators.
But the fines weren’t enough to stop players.
“These young ladies took it upon themselves to send a very simple message standing up against police brutality and racial bias”, he said.
‘When we take off our jerseys and we are out there, we could be next. We have followers now because of who we are, not what we do’.
Evans pointed out that LeBron James and Derrick Rose wore “I Can’t Breathe” T-shirts during warm-ups in honor of Eric Garner in 2014 and that NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said that “he supports the players for their personal views but prefers they’d adhere to on-court attire rules”.
‘Our players are important to us.
‘We were making every effort to engage our players, ‘ she said. They say that it’s wonderful that someone can understand the emotions of people living in the sensitive era that we do.
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The league just doesn’t want them to do it on the court if it violates the WNBA uniform rules.
