The WNBA announced on Thursday that the slate of games scheduled for the day were all cancelled.
Instead, the players are taking what they’re calling a “day of reflection” and issuing a call to action to the rest of the world. It’s the second day in a row the league hasn’t played games as a response to the Jacob Blake shooting in Kenosha, Wisconsin.
Instead of sitting idle, though, the players used the time that they had to broadcast their message loud and clear to the masses.
When the league announced the cancellation of their games, the players all stood together in unity wearing shirts that said “Arrest the cops that killed Breonna Taylor.”
It was a truly incredible and extraordinary moment.
I've said multiple times that this has been the most extraordinary WNBA season I can remember, and it just got more extraordinary pic.twitter.com/sW98EcLV0a
— Timothy Burke (@bubbaprog) August 27, 2020
The players emphasized that this was not a boycott, per Power Plays author Lindsay Gibbs. Instead, they call it a moment of reflection.
WNBA players are on ESPN right now, they are announcing that they are not playing games tonight, either. Emphasize it's not a strike or a boycott, but a day of reflection and a call to action.
— Lindsay Gibbs (@linzsports) August 27, 2020
It’s just yet another monumental moment in what has been a momentous WNBA season. They’ve remained steadfast in their stance against police brutality and the abuses that Black people and other people of color face in America every single day.
The WNBA has led the way in the social justice movement throughout sports and they continue to do so. People in and outside of sports applauded them for their actions.
The entire WNBA is standing together, in the same t-shirt (sorry I missed what it says), arm-in-arm on ESPN while their leaders detail what they want and why they are not playing tonight. It's extraordinary.
— Julie DiCaro is writing a book (@JulieDiCaro) August 27, 2020
Make no mistake.
The @NBA players are doing important things, but the @WNBA are the leaders of the movement within sports.
— Jason Nichols (@drjasonnichols) August 27, 2020
The back of the shirts really got me. The @WNBA have and continue to be leaders. #WNBABoycott https://t.co/Pf6kTYWA0F
— Emil Williams Jr. (@EWJR) August 27, 2020
WNBA really the leaders of this https://t.co/W46mohSQsr
— Mykki (@Mykki) August 27, 2020
The @WNBA has, and continues to lead this movement in sports. We all need to listen to them more. They’ve been educated, organized, and committed long before any of us. ✊🏾 #SayHerName
— Malcolm Jenkins (@MalcolmJenkins) August 27, 2020
The WNBA players are leaders in racial and social justice. https://t.co/tkAyqdJeBr
— Stan Van Gundy (@realStanVG) August 27, 2020
Quite a scene on @ESPN w/ the executive committee of @TheWNBPA very courageously bringing clarity to their decision to not play last night, today, and a plan of action & intent moving forward. The @WNBA sitting brought about this opportunity to elevate the voice of the voiceless. pic.twitter.com/rMMXQa1Ftk
— LaChina Robinson (@LaChinaRobinson) August 27, 2020
Much love and power to Maya Moore and the leaders in the #WNBA. Black women have super powers…
— Camron Smith (@camronsmith) August 27, 2020
