Five days before the NBA, the WNBA officially resumed competition. Isolated in a bubble in Bradenton (Florida), the players began Saturday a regular season shortened to 22 games before the play-offs.
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For this day of recovery, the various teams involved have once again taken a stand against racism and in favor of social justice. In the opening match, the New York Liberty and Seattle Storm players returned to the locker rooms while the American anthem resounded on the floor.
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Teams pay tribute to Breonna Taylor
The New York and Seattle captains spoke at the start of the game to dedicate the WNBA season to Breonna Taylor, and support the ‘Say Her Name’ campaign to seek justice for her death and shine a light on other Afro women. -american with similar stories.
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All players wore the nurse’s name on the back of their shirts, below their own name. The 26-year-old nurse was killed on March 13 by Kentucky police during a search of her home (as part of a false wanted poster). She had been shot dead while sleeping in her bed. The police officers responsible for his death have not been arrested.
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On the field, Seattle dominated New York (87-71) where the number 1 of the last draft, Sabrina Ionescu, was playing her first professional game (12 pts, 4 assists, but 4 of 17 shooting).
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Bria Hartley pounded with Phoenix
Present in the bubble with her son and her Phoenix Mercury teammates, the French international Bria Hartley began with a heavy defeat against the Los Angeles Sparks (76-99). Longest playing time for her team, 29 minutes, the Franco-American leader was not successful and finished with 11 points, 2 out of 11 shooting, 5 assists but 5 stray balls.
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Bria Hartley had a tough game against Los Angeles (Ned Dishman // Nbae via getty images)
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The match was also marked by tributes to Breonna Taylor. ” We are blessed to be able to wake up. We are blessed to be able to be here. But Breonna Taylor is no longer there. The women and men of color that we have lost to police brutality are no longer there; They can’t wake up anymore Bria Hartley teammate Skylar Diggins-Smith said.
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