Loeffler believes there needs to be room for conservative voices in sportsNBAE/GETTY IMAGES
WNBA Atlanta Dream co-Owner and U.S. Sen. KELLY LOEFFLER (R-Ga.) is locked in a close race with U.S. Rep. DOUGLAS COLLINS (R-Ga.), and she is "not backing down" from her stance opposing the league's endorsement of the Black Lives Matter movement, though "pushback from WNBA players, even from her own team, has been fierce," according to Candace Buckner of the WASHINGTON POST. Loeffler: “I’m disappointed at the league’s decision, and that’s why I spoke up. ... I wanted to be able to express myself as so many folks across the country do and have." Loeffler "still believes in the power of her ownership." She said, “This is a business that was built to support women." But former Dream CEO ASHLEY PREISINGER said, “I don’t recognize the person who is speaking and the words she’s using and the stance that she’s taking since she got appointed senator. That’s not the Kelly we know.” Dream F ELIZABETH WILLIAMS said that since Loeffler sent the letter to the WNBA, neither Loeffler nor Dream co-Owner MARY BROCK have "communicated with the players on their payroll." WNBA Commissioner CATHY ENGELBERT has said that Loeffler has a "right to respectfully express her politics and that the league will not push her out." One WNBA team owner said, “I would hope that someone can’t get away with something like this with the league being powerless.” But Loeffler said, “I am an owner, and I will continue to be. ... The idea that I should walk away from it because I have a different view, I say to the contrary. We need to have conservative voices in sports. We need to have room and tolerance for all views" (WASHINGTON POST, 8/30).
ROCK AND A HARD PLACE: ESPN.com's Shelbure & Barnes noted frustrated WNBA players "consulted over Zoom with former first lady MICHELLE OBAMA and seasoned politicians like STACEY ABRAMS," as well as former WNBA President LISA BORDERS. But it "would be hard for the league to force her to sell," because while players had been offended, "no one was threatening to boycott, no major advertisers or sponsors had cut bait and no players said they wouldn't play for the Dream in the future." Sources said that Loeffler and Brock have "approached the league over the years about selling the Dream or taking on limited partners." But the discussions "never progressed." However, sources have said that, behind the scenes, Dream President CHRIS SIENKO, Brock and her husband, former Coca-Cola CEO JOHN BROCK, have been "providing financial information to potential buyers." One of those is former NBAer BARON DAVIS, who said that he was "not at liberty to disclose whether Loeffler was willing to sell her ownership stake in the team, reportedly 49%" (ESPN.com, 8/28).
