The WNBA has decided to postpone the three games scheduled for Wednesday, Aug. 26 in wake of the hospitalization of Jacob Blake, a Black man shot at seven times by police in Kenosha, Wisconsin.
The WNBA announced that the three games scheduled for this evening have been postponed. Information regarding rescheduling of the games will be provided when available.
— WNBA (@WNBA) August 26, 2020
The decision came just hours after the NBA postponed the three playoff games scheduled for Wednesday.
Acting as the representative for all WNBA players, Atlanta Dream centre Elizabeth Williams read a statement regarding the decision:
Center @E_Williams_1 reads statement on @espn as the representative for all @WNBA players. Tonight's games have been cancelled. pic.twitter.com/xDz4uCQSiD
— Atlanta Dream (@AtlantaDream) August 26, 2020
The statement reads as follows:
"After speaking with representatives from teams playing tonight, as well as our WNBPA leadership, the consensus is to not play in tonight's slate of games and to kneel, lock arms and raise fists during the national anthem. 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.
What we have seen over the last few months and most recently with the brutal police shooting of Jacob Blake is overwhelming, and while we hurt for Jacob and his community, we also have an opportunity to keep the focus on the issues and demand change. These moments are why it's important for our fans to stay focus, hear our voices, know our hearts and connect the dots from what we say to what we do.
We encourage everyone to go and register to vote, now, today. If you truly believe that Black lives matter, then vote. Go and complete the 2020 Census now, don't wait. If we wait, we don't make change. It matters. Your voice matters. Your vote matters. Do all you can to make sure your leaders stop with the empty words and do something – this is the reason for the 2020 season, it is in our DNA. We have been saying her name, we have been lifting the names of Black and Brown women, whose murders have been forgotten. We will continue to use our platform to speak of these injustices that are still happening and demand action for change.
Black lives matter. Say her name. Say his name. Tonight, we stand and while we have heavy hearts, we stand with strong and determined voices and ask all our fans to vote, to engage and to make that difference."
Wednesday's movement began as the Milwaukee Bucks were set to play Game 5 of their first-round series against the Orlando Magic but never took the court.
The Bucks became the first NBA team to boycott a playoff game to protest social injustice.
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