All things considered, the WNBA has been getting much attention as of late: good, bad, and indifferent. One of the aspects of the league that makes it exciting is the players themselves. This was especially true when the league changed the course of America’s history thanks to the ballot. The documentary Power of the Dream tells the story of how several players used their platform for change. While the story ends in 2020, it goes back to a divisive time back in 2016.
2016: Trump/Clinton, Alton Sterling, and the Minnesota Lynx
If one lived through the year 2016, it can be said it was a rough year for America in many regards. First, the Presidential Election between businessman Donald Trump and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton dominated the headlines. Sadly, the year saw the deaths of 37-year-old Alton Sterling in Louisiana and 32-year-old Philando Castile in Minnesota. It happened a day apart from each other.
Three days following Castile’s death, the Minnesota Lynx, arguably the best team in the WNBA at the time, made a stance. The team donned black warm-up shirts that said”Change starts with us — Justice & Accountability” on the front. On the back of the shirt were the names of Castile and Sterling. Also, the Lynx held a press conference ahead of their against the Dallas Wings. It included captains Rebekkah Brunson, Maya Moore, Lindsay Whalen, and Seimone Augustus.
Moore spoke at that press conference about the meaning of the shirt and the team’s platform:
“If we take this time to see that this is a human issue and speak out together, we can greatly decrease fear and create change. Tonight we will be wearing shirts to honor and mourn the losses of precious American citizens and to plead for change in all of us.”
"This is a human issue & we need to speak up for change, together." -Maya pic.twitter.com/tyfl65Ag81
— Minnesota Lynx (@minnesotalynx) July 9, 2016
However, the stance by the Lynx came with backlash as four off-duty Minnesota police officers left their posts ahead of their game two days later. It became clear that there would be push back but Moore’s words ignited something that the WNBA caught onto soon.
2019: A WNBA Superstar Exits for a Greater Cause
Moore, one of the best players in WNBA history, left the league in 2019 in pursuit of criminal justice reform. A year later, she helped Jonathan Irons win his release from prison by getting his 50-year sentence overturned.
The year 2019 also saw the reelection of then-Los Angeles Sparks star Nneka Ogwumike as President of the WNBA Players Association.
Photo Credit: Amazon Prime Video.
She would lead the charge along with other WNBA superstars the following year in making their platform even bigger.
2020: How the WNBA Became at the Forefront of Social Activism
Like 2016, 2020 was a year that saw a Presidential Election and the deaths when it came to people of color. In February, Ahmaud Arbery was killed as he was jogging in Georgia. 26-year-old Breonna Taylor was shot and killed in her Louisville, Kentucky apartment by several police officers. Lastly, George Floyd was killed in Minnesota by a police officer.
This saw two WNBA players choosing to sit out the 2020 WNBA season. Guards Renee Montgomery of the Atlanta Dream and Natasha Cloud of the Washington Mystics sat out to focus on social justice issues. However, the season was delayed due to COVID-19 and started in July. Before the start of the season, at IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida, Layshia Clarendon and Breanna Stewart spoke at center court.
Photo Credit: Amazon Prime Video.
It was announced that the season would be dedicated to Taylor, Black Lives Matter, and the Say Her Name campaign.
.@Layshiac and @breannastewart address the 2020 #WNBA season being dedicated to Breonna Taylor and the Black Lives Matter Movement. pic.twitter.com/BNWrErjeWP
— WNBA (@WNBA) July 25, 2020
Over a month into the season, the WNBA postponed three games following the death of 26-year-old Jacob Blake in Kenosha, Wisconsin. In a live statement, Dream forward Elizabeth Williams released a statement about the death of Blake and the league’s platform:
“We stand in solidarity with our brothers in the NBA and will continue this conversation with our brothers and sisters across all leagues and look to take collective action…These moments are why it’s important for our fans to stay focused, hear our voices, know our hearts and connect the dots from what we say to what we do.”
The women of the @wnba have been fighting for justice for years. This week is no exception.
— Pod For The Cause (@PodForTheCause) August 27, 2020
Watch every word of @AtlantaDreams center @E_Williams_1’s statement on behalf of all #WNBA players, #captioned here.#BlackLivesMatter#JacobBlake#AllBlackLivesMatter#SayHerName pic.twitter.com/CJvL28xDvb
While their social activism was being seen by a national audience, the WNBA would then take it a step further by impacting an election in the state of Georgia.
How the WNBA Changed America
In July 2020, the co-owner of the Dream, United States Republican Senator Kelly Loeffler penned a letter to WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert regarding the league’s plans for honoring the Black Lives Matter movement. Loeffler had been the co-owner of the Dream since 2011. She urged Engelbert to change the plan for players to wear warm-up jerseys saying “Black Lives Matter” and “Say Her Name.” Instead, Loeffler wanted an American flag on all uniforms and apparel.
Needlessly to say, this did not sit well with the players on the Dream, including Angel McCoughtry and Jaylyn Agnew. Moreover, players across the league as well quickly condemned the letter by Loeffler. A month before, the Georgia Senator was on Fox News, calling Black protesters “mob rule” in Atlanta. Players like Sue Bird, Skylar Diggins-Smith, and former WNBA great Sheryl Swoopes came out against Loeffler.
We must not allow mob rule.
— Kelly Loeffler (@KLoeffler) June 26, 2020
We must not defund the police.
And we must protect the Constitutional rights of law-abiding Americans. I’m continuing to take action on these issues. #gapol #gasen pic.twitter.com/nrJueL82PJ
Photo Credit: Amazon Prime Video.
This time, the players used their platform to come against Loeffler as she was running to keep her seat in the Senate. The players chose to rally around her opponent in the Senate election, Democrat Raphael Warnock. Warnock, an unknown to many across the country, entered the spotlight as nearly all of the WNBA players wore “VOTE WARNOCK” t-shirts a month after Loeffler’s letter. The election was one being watched by many as the balance of power in the Senate was on the line.
It was a major risk as now they stood out against a sitting United States Senator. In the end, Warnock went from an unknown to becoming the first African-American Senator from Georgia. Also, Democrats took control of the Senate. The WNBA
Takeaways
The Power of the Dream documentary told the story of the true power the WNBA has had and its impact on change. Whether it is social injustice or voting, the WNBA’s platform is as strong as any other professional league. The work by Bird, Ogwumike, Williams, Clarendon, McCoughtry, Agnew, Cloud, Montogomery, and others was not in vain.
Photo Credit: Amazon Prime Video.
Photo Credit: Amazon Prime Video.
Photo Credit: Amazon Prime Video.
When Loeffler sold her share of the Dream in 2021, it was to a three-person group that included Montgomery. The message is that the WNBA is not shy from taking on any cause, no matter the opposition. Take the time to watch the documentary on Amazon Prime Video now and see the power and impact in action.
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