Courtside

WNBA Rescinds Fines Of Teams Who Wore Anti-Violence Shirts

The WNBA came to their senses. Last week, three WNBA teams—the Phoenix Mercury, New York Liberty and Indiana Fever—were fined for wearing black t-shirts in the wake of recent police shootings.


The teams were fined $5,000 each, and players lost $500 from their paycheck. According to the WNBA’s uniform policy, warmup shirts may not be altered in any way.

The fines were a problem for several WNBA players, who called out the league for handing out Pride t-shirts after the Orlando nightclub massacre, but not allowing players to make a stand against police violence.

 

Some players took an even more direct response, staging a media black out last week. Players from both the Liberty and the Fever refused to answer any questions about basketball, as reported by Sports Illustrated reported.

“We’re only talking about Black Lives Matter,” Fever forward Tamika Catchings said

Liberty forward and WNBA AllStar Swin Cash said:

“We really would appreciate that people stop making our support of Black Lives Matter, an issue that is so critical in our society right now, as us not supporting the police officers, I think people need to understand that it’s not mutually exclusive.”

Carmelo Anthony voiced his displeasure with the league as both an NBA player and someone who has been very vocal for the movement. “I don’t see why there would be a reason for those ladies to get fined,” he said, as The Washington Post reported. “Everybody has freedom of speech.”

Pressure bursts pipes, so the WNBA decided to rescind the fine.

“All of us at the WNBA have the utmost respect and appreciation for our players expressing themselves on matters important to them,” WNBA President Lisa Borders said in a statement. “While we expect players to comply with league rules and uniform guidelines, we also understand their desire to use their platform to address important societal issues.”

Staff

Share
Published by
Staff

Recent Posts

RSVP Book Recommendations & Review: Worthy- Jada Pinkett-Smith

Jada Pinkett Smith, a global superstar known for her multifaceted career as an actress, singer-songwriter,…

7 months ago

Deon Cole & Cast Talk BET+ Series ‘Average Joe’ Talk Dark Comedy & Zombie Apocalypse Skills

The new BET+ series, "Average Joe" is a dark comedy inspired by the life of…

10 months ago

“The Angry Black Girl & Her Monster” | Insights with Filmmaker Bomani Story

“The Angry Black Girl and Her Monster” is about Vicaria, a brilliant teenager who believes death…

11 months ago

HULU’s “Searching for Soul Food”: Exploring Culinary Legacies Around the World With Chef Alisa Reynolds

Hulu's new series, "Searching for Soul Food," takes viewers on an international journey with renowned…

11 months ago

Power Book II: Ghost’s Shane Johnson Talks Cooper Saxe’s Death & Time On Power Franchise

The character of Cooper Saxe appeared in over 60 episodes across the "Power" universe. The…

11 months ago

Making Waves: Halle Bailey on Bringing Ariel to Life in Disney’s 2023 “The Little Mermaid” Live-Action Remake

 Disney's live-action rendition of "The Little Mermaid" has emerged from a tidal wave of anticipation…

11 months ago

This website uses cookies.