The WNBA fined the Liberty, Mercury and Fever $5,000 each, and their players are all being forced to pay $500 for wearing warmup shirts in remembrance of Alton Sterling, Philando Castile, and the five law enforcement officers who were killed in Dallas earlier this month.
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The league told The Associated Press in a statement that it is "proud" of their players' "engagement and passionate advocacy," but that rules are rules. The players who had to give up $500 of their paycheck were not happy with the league because of their hypocrisy.
Don't say we have a voice and then fine us because we use it. #notpuppets #cutthestrings
— Mistie Bass (@A_Phoenix_Born) July 21, 2016
Many players took to social media to lash out, including the Mercury's Kelsey Bone. She said after the Orlando nightclub shootings the league sent them shirts to wear, which she said they should have done. But her problem is that they pick and choose which events to honor, and feels like the recent shootings of black men is something the league should take a stand on.
GENTILLE: WNBA had a chance to do something important, and blew it
Why support one cause that effects our country and not another?
— Sophia Petrillheaux (@kelseybone3) July 20, 2016
In a time where our league is searching for relevance why not take a stand and support your players on issues that effect majority of them
— Sophia Petrillheaux (@kelseybone3) July 20, 2016
Bone says the $500 fine isn't the issue, "the fact the league has no opinion" is the issue, and others agree. Speaking after the Fever's game Wednesday, Briann January voiced similar concerns.
"What's most upsetting is the way it was handled," January said, via the Los Angeles Times. "You have a league that is 90 — if not above 90 percent African American — and you have an issue that is directly affecting them and the people they know and you have a league that isn't willing to side with them.
"It's not a race issue, not an anti-police issue, not a black or white issue. It's a right or wrong issue." January said. "When the thing in Orlando happened the league saw the NBA backed it and we went all in. Nobody had any question. They knew it was a right or wrong issue. This is a very similar thing. It's really disappointing the league isn't having our back on this one."
MCCARTHY: Activists NBA athletes are making their own rules
I understand uniform policy & all...but how can you support 1 incident that effects the community in & in support of our league but not...
— Alysha Clark (@Alysha_Clark) July 21, 2016
Support the other? Shirts were in our lockers right after the Orlando incident. Is it b/c #BlackLivesMatters is uncomfortable for you?
— Alysha Clark (@Alysha_Clark) July 21, 2016
Why are teams and individuals being punished for having a voice?
— Chelsea Gray (@cgray209) July 21, 2016
In other leagues, speaking negatively about the place you work has resulted in fines. We'll have to wait and see if the WNBA takes any action regarding its players' criticism.
