WNBA Atlanta Dream G Renee Montgomery has decided to "opt out" of the coming season in order to "dedicate this next year to fighting for social justice and trying to make a difference," according to Sarah Spencer of the ATLANTA JOURNAL-CONSTITUTION. Montgomery announced her decision on Thursday via Twitter, but "essentially made the decision May 25," the day of George Floyd's death. Montgomery said, "When George Floyd got murdered, I think it woke America up, it woke the world up. You see protests all over the world. So I think for me, at that moment, I just, you can’t ignore it anymore." She added, "I just feel like there's a moment right now that I want to capitalize on in the sense of a lot of people want better, a lot of companies are like 'How can we help?'" Spencer reports Montgomery "plans to return to basketball after this year" (ATLANTA JOURNAL-CONSTITUTION, 6/19). In N.Y., Gillian Brassil writes Montgomery has "actively demonstrated in person and online following the killing of George Floyd in police custody in Minneapolis, speaking out on issues including racism, police brutality and voting rights." She said that she "plans to spend the next few months determining how she can help" (N.Y. TIMES, 6/19).
LEAGUE-WIDE EFFORT: In Minneapolis, Kent Youngblood notes WNBA Minnesota Lynx coach & GM Cheryl Reeve last week pledged to "keep social justice issues on the front burner even as the WNBA prepares to get back to work." Reeve said, "This is at the forefront of our minds. Playing basketball is what we do. The other part of us is wanting to make the world a better place for everybody" (Minneapolis STAR TRIBUNE, 6/19).
