Stars speak out against social injustice and racism
Canadians in league push for change on both sides of the border
A basketball season that is about far more than just basketball starts Saturday when the WNBA begins play inside its bubble in Bradenton, Fla.
There will be a bright line shone on the game itself; the WNBA is coming off one of its most successful seasons ever last year when television ratings in the United States shot up by more than 60 per cent from the previous season. But the causes of social justice and racism will be at the fore.
The players will wear the name of Breonna Taylor, the Black 26-year-old murdered by police officers in Louisville, Ky., in March, for the opening weekend. Some will wear her name on their jerseys for the entire season.
“We will dedicate this season to social and racial justice, we still have that momentum to keep going,” said Kayla Alexander of Milton, one of four Canadians in the league. “We have to take these events and this unprecedented season and use it to our advantage.”
Alexander and Bridget Carleton, of Chatham, Ont., are teammates on the Minnesota Lynx while New York’s Kia Nurse, of Hamilton, and Indiana’s Natalie Achonwa, of Guelph, round out the Canadian content in the 12-team league.
All of them know the platform they have to raise awareness of social injustice issues, in the U.S. and Canada, presents a unique and important opportunity.
“I want to use my voice on a lot of matters,” Nurse said. “Indigenous people, women’s rights, obviously the treatment of Blacks and other people of colour are important to me. Living in both countries, I have a unique perspective and a responsibility to speak out and use my platform on both sides of the border. “It’s important to me.” The platform is unique. Starting with three games Saturday, the league will play its entire 22-game season at the IMG Academy in Bradenton. With an increase in nationally broadcast games and an attentive basketball audience dying to see real competition, the women will be able to reach a wide audience.
“We’re so proud of our players speaking out on these issues,” WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert said on a conference call Thursday. “There’s nothing political about that. It’s a statement of their values. They’re bringing awareness to issues that have long been ignored, particularly as they advocate for female victims of racial injustice and police brutality. That’s an important voice to be heard.”
The league hopes to capitalize on a carry-over from a significant off-season that settled many of the larger issues it has faced. Engelbert and the players association negotiated a new collective bargaining agreement that raised base salaries, smoothed over such contentious issues as maternity leave, travel arrangements, overall health care and a marketing agreement that has the players and league truly working together.
According to the league, “top players will be able to earn cash compensation in excess of $500,000 (U.S.), representing a more than tripling of the maximum compensation under the prior deal. Other top players will have an opportunity to earn between $200,000 and $300,000. And for the first time in WNBA history, the average cash compensation for players will exceed six figures, averaging nearly $130,000, resulting in an increase for all players from rookies to veterans.”
Capitalizing on that new agreement and not losing an entire season was a huge impetus to get something done.