WNBA players are "wearing 'Vote Warnock' T-shirts to games this week to support Rev. Raphael Warnock, who is challenging Atlanta Dream co-owner Kelly Loeffler (R-Ga.) for her Senate seat," according to Ramona Shelburne of ESPN.com. Dream F Elizabeth Williams said that the league's exec committee "began exploring the shirt idea as a response to Sen. Loeffler's statements" in which she objected to the "league's promotion of Black Lives Matter." Williams said that the Dream and other players from around the league have "made a coordinated effort not to discuss Sen. Loeffler or her statements in recent weeks, and instead focused on how they could best support a candidate they felt better represented their political views." She indicated that Seattle Storm G Sue Bird "initially came up with the idea." Bird explained that participation in the campaign to support Warnock is "voluntary and that all players have discussed the idea over Zoom calls while at the IMG Academy, where the season resumed in late July" (ESPN.com, 8/4). ESPN’s Holly Rowe noted players "have actually had Zoom calls with Rev. Warnock.” Rowe said the shirts are a "bold move" that shows players "want their voices to be the loudest that are being heard” (“Mercury-Dream,” ESPN, 8/4).
OVERVIEW: In N.Y., Sopan Deb writes the "public show of defiance" by WNBA players against a league co-owner marks the "latest escalation in a conflict that has roiled the WNBA in recent weeks." Williams said that players "plan to 'vocally support' Warnock in the coming weeks, and that players have had 'several' conversations with him." Loeffler in a statement yesterday said, "This is just more proof that the out of control cancel culture wants to shut out anyone who disagrees with them. It's clear that the league is more concerned with playing politics than basketball." Deb notes in planning the demonstration, the players "thought it was important that the T-shirts debuted during a game that was nationally televised," and yesterday's game between the Dream and Phoenix Mercury was scheduled to be broadcast on ESPN2. Williams said that the teams' coaches were "made aware of the demonstration," but that she was "unsure whether Mary Brock, the philanthropist who owns the other 51 percent of the Dream, was told ahead of time." Deb notes Brock thus far "has not publicly addressed the conflict between Loeffler and the WNBA players" (N.Y. TIMES, 8/5).
STRONG WORDS FOR LOEFFLER: Chicago Sky G Courtney Vandersloot during a video conference after yesterday's game said of Loeffler, "I'm not sure why she wants to be a part of the WNBA; she doesn't support anything we stand for. We're an incredible league that has always been very vocal. We have 80 percent of black women who are absolutely amazing. If you feel so strongly about them, then why are you even associated with the WNBA? That part I don’t understand. We don't need you" (CHICAGO TRIBUNE, 8/5). ESPN’s LaChina Robinson: "What is difficult for me to understand is why Loeffler has not accepted invitations to have conversations from her players. What message is that sending?” (“Mercury-Dream,” ESPN, 8/4).
