U.S. Sen. Kelly Loeffler (R-Ga.), who also is a co-Owner of the WNBA Atlanta Dream, objected to the league's plans to honor the Black Lives Matter movement, warning that subscribing to a "particular political agenda undermines the potential of the sport and sends a message of exclusion." Loeffler urged Commissioner Cathy Engelbert in a letter to "scrap plans for players to wear warmup jerseys reading 'Black Lives Matter' and 'Say Her Name' and instead put an American flag on all uniforms and apparel." Loeffler wrote, "We need less -- not more politics in sports. In a time when polarizing politics is as divisive as ever, sports has the power to be a unifying antidote" (ATLANTA JOURNAL-CONSTITUTION, 7/7).
Engelbert responded today, saying in a statement that the league is "based on the principle of equal and fair treatment of all people and we, along with the teams and players, will continue to use our platforms to vigorously advocate for social justice." She also noted Loeffler has "not served as a Governor of the Atlanta Dream since October 2019 and is no longer involved in the day-to-day business of the team" (WNBA).
