Before the season began in July, WNBA players declared that they would honor Breonna Taylor and the “Say Her Name” campaign, which raises awareness of Black women who have been victims of police violence. Bird observed a 26-second moment of silence in Taylor’s memory, who was killed by Louisville, Kentucky, along with her Storm teammates and the New York Liberty. , police in her home in March.
The point guard, who served as vice president of the WNBA players union, collaborated with her teammates to determine safe game practices in the “wubble,” which the league created to allow players to finish the season. As union officials worked out contracts with the league, according to Bird, one demand was at the top of their list of “nonnegotiables”:
A significant chain reaction in the professional sports world was started when the Milwaukee Bucks decided to boycott their August playoff game against the Orlando Magic in protest of the police shooting of Jacob Blake. Other teams joined the walkout, raising the possibility of ending an expensive NBA season. Days later, the league agreed to establish a “social justice coalition” to encourage voting and push for changes to the criminal justice system.
Players designed “We Are Breonna Taylor” shirts and sent proceeds to the Breonna Taylor Foundation. After the WNBA postponed games in August following Blakes shooting, Washington Mystics players wore T-shirts with seven bullet holes printed on the back in honor of Blake, a Black man who was shot several times in the back by police in Kenosha, Wis.
“Throughout WNBA seasons, we always have a Pride night. And you support your teammates regardless of your sexual orientation,” says Bird. “And I think this is just another example. Im not Black. But naturally, I’m going to support my teammates and the female players in this league and keep up the fight. “.
Basketball star Sue Bird remembers winning the NCAA tournament in 2000 and again in 2002 while playing for the University of Connecticut. At the time, she says, her college games were the “hottest ticket” in the state. But when she moved over to the WNBA, the crowds thinned out.
A lot of it . was ensuring that everyone in our team knew what we were trying to achieve and that we were always in agreement. To get specific, it can be as specific as the play we are running, when we are running it, why we are running it, and the offensive and defensive goals we have in mind. I believe that developed into my identity, especially as my career progressed. However, it likely took all 20 years to truly perfect it. It was always a part of me. I’ve always wanted to leave my fingerprints on the game in that manner, even as a small child.
Athletes, were all a little crazy. In these extremely intensely emotional times, we are practically trained to regulate our emotions. Thus, you try to put yourself in those kinds of situations and you prepare. In order for you to feel it, your coaches attempt to place your team in those kinds of circumstances. Nothings like an actual game. I would say that every big shot I’ve ever made in those fleeting moments makes me feel extremely at ease. I dont have a lot of chatter in my head. Im able to just feel the game.
Megan is the kind of person whose behavior includes a hint of selfishness. Shes a great passer, but shes looking for those moments. Shes seeking them out. And so, how does that sometimes manifest itself in our relationship? She may require a little more room. I might be willing to give that space up. Therefore, it is my responsibility to take time out of our relationship, and Megan’s to sort of notice when that’s happening, and vice versa. That’s sort of how it’s affected our relationship, but we’re now aware of it. Shout out to couples therapy. And its made the relationship even more fun to navigate.
Womens college basketball is a huge entity. The NCAA is a huge entity. Thus, while attending college, particularly at a university such as U Conn. , where we were the hottest ticket in the state of Connecticut, drawing sold-out audiences each night. Theres no other professional team really around that area. So we had a ton of media coverage. Thus, when I joined the WNBA in 2002, it was a league that’s still new. Its getting going. And there were undoubtedly some highs and lows in the coverage. I believe the league was on the decline when I joined, and it then clearly plateaued. So it was different. It wasnt the same platform as college basketball. The product and play quality were excellent and significantly higher than in the WNBA, but there were many other areas that were deficient, such as media attention and financial support. So it was confusing.
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