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WNBA Announces Season Will Resume Friday After Player Protests

Adam Wells@adamwells1985Featured ColumnistAugust 28, 2020

Atlanta Dream center Elizabeth Williams sets up for a shot during the second half of a WNBA basketball game against the Dallas Wings, Sunday, July 26, 2020, in Bradenton, Fla. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)
Phelan M. Ebenhack/Associated Press

The 2020 WNBA season will resume Friday after games scheduled the previous two days were postponed amid player protests.

The league confirmed games will resume along with a message about the ongoing fight for social justice and racial equality:

WNBA @WNBA

Games resume tonight. The fight for justice and equality never stops. https://t.co/OQVrkEIiJR

On Wednesday, Elizabeth Williams of the Atlanta Dream read a prepared statement on behalf of all the WNBA players explaining their decision not to play:   

Atlanta Dream @AtlantaDream

Center @E_Williams_1 reads statement on @espn as the representative for all @WNBA players. Tonight's games have been cancelled. https://t.co/xDz4uCQSiD

Los Angeles Sparks forward Nneka Ogwumike, who is also president of the WNBA players union, said on SportsCenter (h/t NBC Chicago's Rob Schaefer) that Thursday's games were postponed to give players a day "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 by not playing today," Ogwumike said.

The WNBA joined the NBA, MLS, NHL, MLB and tennis in player protests of racial injustice that led to the postponement of games this week in the aftermath of Jacob Blake being shot in the back seven times by a police officer in Kenosha, Wisconsin on Sunday. 

Friday's WNBA schedule includes three games—Minnesota Lynx vs. Atlanta Dream, Los Angeles Sparks vs. Connecticut Sun, Washington Mystics vs. Phoenix Mercuryfrom IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida.