WBNA Friday Night
Phoenix Mercury vs Washington Mystics
After a day of reflection to renew their commitments to social justice causes, both the Washington Mystics and Phoenix Mercury return to action Friday night in a game critical to both teams' postseason chances.
In a normal season, this game would be a marquee matchup pitting Elena Delle Donne and the defending champion Mystics (4-9) versus WNBA all-time leading scorer Diana Taurasi and the Mercury (7-7). But this season has been anything but normal, starting with life in the "wubble," and the absence of Delle Donne as she recovers from offseason back surgery.
And both of those facts have taken a back seat to the on-going commitment -- at the league, team, and player levels -- to raise attention to social injustice. Justice for Breonna Taylor has been at the forefront of nearly every conversation among WNBA players on this subject, and the recent fatal shooting of Jacob Blake intensified that spotlight yet again.
Teams opted not to play Wednesday and Thursday, with WNBA Players Association President and Los Angeles Sparks forward Nneka Ogwumike made a statement Thursday explaining their position:
"The players of the WNBA used (Thursday) to reflect. Following yesterday's decision to stand in solidarity with NBA players and black and brown communities in Wisconsin and around the country, we will continue demonstrating our solidarity in not playing today. It is important to note this is not a strike, it is not a boycott; this is affirmatively a day of reflection. A day of informed action and mobilization."
In a normal season, this game would be a marquee matchup pitting Elena Delle Donne and the defending champion Mystics (4-9) versus WNBA all-time leading scorer Diana Taurasi and the Mercury (7-7). But this season has been anything but normal, starting with life in the "wubble," and the absence of Delle Donne as she recovers from offseason back surgery.
And both of those facts have taken a back seat to the on-going commitment -- at the league, team, and player levels -- to raise attention to social injustice. Justice for Breonna Taylor has been at the forefront of nearly every conversation among WNBA players on this subject, and the recent fatal shooting of Jacob Blake intensified that spotlight yet again.
Teams opted not to play Wednesday and Thursday, with WNBA Players Association President and Los Angeles Sparks forward Nneka Ogwumike made a statement Thursday explaining their position:
"The players of the WNBA used (Thursday) to reflect. Following yesterday's decision to stand in solidarity with NBA players and black and brown communities in Wisconsin and around the country, we will continue demonstrating our solidarity in not playing today. It is important to note this is not a strike, it is not a boycott; this is affirmatively a day of reflection. A day of informed action and mobilization."