"Senator Loeffler and those like her who seek to silence and dismiss others when they speak up for justice have planted themselves on the wrong side of history," he added. According to a release, the Chicago Sky, Dallas Wings, Connecticut Sun, and Seattle Storm are also wearing the shirts. Join the movement for a better Georgia at https://t.co/hC8iF9urak pic.twitter.com/mvN5e9m4oO. “We are [WNBA] players, but like the late, great John Lewis said, we are also ordinary people with extraordinary vision,” Dream player Elizabeth Williams tweeted. We're more than athletes. ", "This is just more proof that the out of control cancel culture wants to shut out anyone who disagrees with them," she said Tuesday in a statement. To me, this is not what our league stands for.". Warnock is pro criminal justice reform, for LGBT+ rights, and pro choice/reproductive rights. Initially, this kind of came from Sue -- vote for Warnock. "I think he's someone who's fighting to create change and fighting to be on the right side of things. @ReverendWarnock has spent his life fighting for the people and we need him in Washington. Image: Twitter/@DiaryBoss And in August, many players from the Dream and the Pheonix Mercury arrived to their game wearing "VOTE WARNOCK" shirts. Notifications can be turned off anytime in the browser settings. In June, Sen. Kelly Loeffler, a co-owner of the Atlanta Dream, ... players are now wearing "Vote Warnock" shirts as they arrive at games — a statement in support of Rev. The Chicago Sky players take a shot at Atlanta Dream part owner Kelly Loeffler with vote shirts. "There's no room for racism in this country, and we have to root it out where it exists. Amid calls for Loeffler to step away from the Dream, the WNBA has said she is "no longer involved in the day-to-day business" of the team. Starting in August, players from the Dream and other teams wore “Vote Warnock” t-shirts to games, where they would be seen on social media and … Raphael Warnock, a Democrat who is challenging the Georgia Republican for her Senate seat in November. "That's kind of been the theme of this season. On our first nationally televised game of the 2020 WNBA season, my team — the Atlanta Dream — decided to seize the moment. "Senator Loeffler and those like her who seek to silence and dismiss others when they speak up for justice have planted themselves on the wrong side of history. "They may feel excluded from this sport and other sports that make them feel like American values aren't at the core of what we're doing here.". Obviously, I'm not voting for Georgia, but continuing to use my platform to help with that -- but I did vote today, just want to let you know. ATLANTA — Players around the WNBA began wearing "Vote Warnock" shirts on Tuesday, in response to Sen. Kelly Loeffler's opposition to the Black Lives Matter movement. WNBA players are wearing black t-shirts with the words “Vote Warnock” on it this week to support Raphael Warnock who is running for Senate in Georgia. And the more noise we made, whether it was a tweet saying to get her out, that was just playing into her hands. ", Guard Sami Whitcomb concurred, saying the players "are very concerned with leadership in this country and people that we want to be representing us and the morals that they represent. RELATED: WNBA team owner and U.S. Sen. Kelly Loeffler upset with league's plan to honor Black Lives Matter, Sen. Loeffler has characterized Black Lives Matter as a political organization, rather than a protest movement, and said she opposes it "due to its radical ideas and Marxist foundations, which include defunding the police and eroding the nuclear family. ", Later Tuesday, Loeffler followed up with a statement of her own, saying, "This is just more proof that the out-of-control cancel culture wants to shut out anyone who disagrees with them. "The Black Lives Matter political organization advocates things like defunding and abolishing the police, abolishing our military, emptying our prisons, destroying the nuclear family. And I think our league has always encouraged people to use their voices and to get out and vote. I think [Loeffler has] proven that she doesn't represent us, she doesn't represent our voices -- not in this league, not in the community. Tuesday afternoon ahead of their game, Atlanta Dream players wore “Vote Warnock” t-shirts supporting The Reverend Raphael G. Warnock, who is challenging Atlanta Dream co-owner Kelly Loeffler (R-Ga.) for her U.S. Senate seat. Last month, Loeffler wrote a letter to WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert objecting to the league's promotion of Black Lives Matter -- which is painted on the courts at IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida, where the league is holding its restart -- and advocating instead for teams to add American flags to jerseys. The beef began in July when Senator Loeffler wrote an excoriating letter to WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert, voicing … Williams said the Dream and other players have made a coordinated effort not to discuss Loeffler or her statements in recent weeks, and instead focused on how they could best support a candidate they felt better represented their political views. Her seat is up for grabs in a … "We can only control so much about what the league does [in regard to Loeffler], and so for us, we wanted it to be bigger than that. And so if we're going to sit here and talk about wanting justice reform, part of that is making sure that we have officials in office that understand that.". The Mercury also wore the "Vote Warnock" shirts. And I'll just leave it at that.". Rev. Loeffler, who owns a partial share in the Atlanta Dream and was officially appointed the junior United States Senator from Georgia by Governor Brian Kemp in January, penned a letter to WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert in July voicing opposition to the league’s plans to honor the Black Lives Matter movement throughout its season. So it just worked out really well.". 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"We are @wnba players, but like the late, great John Lewis said, we are also ordinary people with extraordinary vision. So we wanted to make sure we could still keep the focus on our social justice movement, and funny enough, Rev. Attorney representing women accusing T.I. Ben Pickman Aug 4, 2020 WNBA players across the league are wearing "Vote Warnock" T-shirts to games this week in support of Rev. We are @wnba players, but like the late, great John Lewis said, we are also ordinary people with extraordinary vision. But there's a political organization called Black Lives Matter that I think is very important to make the distinction between their aim and where we are as a country at this moment. Players from the Atlanta Dream, along with four other WNBA teams, wore black “Vote Warnock” T-shirts at Tuesday’s games, in support of Warnock according to ABC News. "We want people in office who support the same values and morals as we do. "We definitely decided to wear it because he's for Black Lives Matter," guard Chennedy Carter said. It promotes violence and anti-Semitism. Bird told ESPN that participation in the campaign to support Warnock is voluntary and that all players have discussed the idea over Zoom calls while at IMG Academy, where the WNBA season resumed in late July. @ReverendWarnock has spent his life fighting for the people and we need him in Washington," Elizabeth Williams, one of the Dream's leading scorers, tweeted Tuesday before the team's game against the Phoenix Mercury. We're voting for Warnock. "He supports the league and the movement, and we support him. "I think a lot of people feel that they may not have a place," Loeffler said. WNBA players are wearing “Vote Warnock” T-shirts to games this week to support Rev. "It’s clear that the league is more concerned with playing politics than basketball.". Rev. Warnock does, so we're putting our support behind him because of the person that he is and the type of legislation that he stands for. WNBA players wore "Vote Warnock" shirts to protest against the owner of the Atlanta Dream. 4, Ionescu youngest to record WNBA triple-double, Opals star Jackson elected to Hall of Fame, Ionescu, 'ready for moment,' nails winner for NY, WNBA great Augustus retires, joins Sparks' staff, WNBA details plan for first Commissioner's Cup, Stewart signs with Puma, to get signature shoe, Aces hire ex-LSU coach Fargas as team president, Storm have different faces but get same result against Aces, 'She wore hearing aids': How a Zoom call with Tamika Catchings affirmed everything, Ionescu, Taurasi open the 2021 WNBA season in style, NBA world shows support for WNBA opening day, How life in the 'Wubble' forever changed three WNBA players, Storm's Stewart, Aces' Wilson lead way in top 25 WNBA player rankings, Spent seven years at the Los Angeles Daily News. Elizabeth Williams, a forward on the Atlanta Dream, told ESPN that the league's executive committee began exploring the shirt idea as a response to Loeffler's statements, because "for effective change to happen, there has to be policy changes. We call it supporting the human race and morals. On Tuesday (Aug. 4), players from Atlanta Dream and other teams sported shirts wearing “Vote Warnock” as an opposition to Loeffler. You can call it politics. This was something that she wanted. This movement gives us the opportunity to fight for what we believe in, and I stand by all athletes promoting social justice on and off the court. Even Atlanta Dream Players Wore 'Vote Warnock' Tshirts For Photo The WNBA franchise the Atlanta Dream is co-owned by Republican Senator Kelly Loeffler, who continues to embarrass the league and the players on that team. WNBA players from the Atlanta team, as well as players from the Seattle Storm, Chicago Sky and Phoenix Mercury, wore "Vote Warnock" on T-shirts … Last month, Loeffler told ESPN that she feared the WNBA's public support for the Black Lives Matter movement could drive some fans away. Brian Kemp. WNBA players are wearing "Vote Warnock" T-shirts to games this week to support Rev. The Republican is a co-owner of the Atlanta Dream, who were among the teams that wore the shirts. Members of the Atlanta Dream WNBA team wear Vote Warnock t-shirts to show support for Rev. Raphael Warnock. ESPN's Holly Rowe and Kevin Pelton contributed to this report. "So, this is somebody that we're supporting, as well.". "This was a situation where given what was said in regards to the owner of Atlanta and how, basically, she came out against a lot of what the women in our league stand for, I think was emotionally tough for a lot of the women in our league to hear that," Bird said. "I'm not some political strategist, but what I do know is that voting is important. It's clear that the league is more concerned with playing politics than basketball, and I stand by what I wrote in June.". WNBA players are wearing "Vote Warnock" T-shirts to games this week to support Rev. Warnock is one of her more high-profile opponents in an open special election in November to fill out the remainder of Sen. Johnny Isakson's term, a seat she currently holds on appointment by Gov. The Republican is a co-owner of the Atlanta Dream, who were among the teams that wore the shirts. WNBA players want Atlanta Dream co-owner Sen. Kelly Loeffler (R-Ga.) out of their league ― and out of the Senate. WNBA players have escalated their opposition to Atlanta Dream co-owner, Sen. Kelly Loeffler (R-Ga.), by wearing shirts supporting one of her opponents in the upcoming election. Warnock is somebody who supports everything that we support and just happens to be running in that seat. ", "He's just somebody that also supports the Black Lives Matter -- the movements that the WNBA is standing behind this year," she said. And, if he's in the Senate, you know who's not. Warnock released a statement through his campaign Tuesday saying he was "honored and humbled by the overwhelming support from the WNBA players. Atlanta Dream forward discusses "Vote Warnock" shirts that sparked controversy because the team is co-owned by Senator Kelly Loeffler. A representative for Atlanta Dream did not immediately respond to PEOPLE's request for comment about the "Vote Warnock" t-shirts. She also contended that there is a difference between saying "Black lives matter" and the organization Black Lives Matter. Across the chest of the black T-shirts were two words “Vote Warnock,” a reference to the Atlanta pastor who is one of the top Democrats running … To have someone in our league that doesn't represent or support African Americans, who are 80% of our league, is disheartening, honestly, and sickening.". August 4, 2020. "I think we all agree the life of every African American is important," Loeffler said. Raphael Warnock, who is challenging Atlanta Dream co-owner Kelly Loeffler (R-Ga.) for her U.S. Senate seat. Also on Tuesday, the Seattle Storm defeated the Connecticut Sun 87-74. In August, players on the Atlanta Dream and Phoenix Mercury also wore “Vote Warnock” t-shirts, endorsing Loeffler’s Democratic opponent, Raphael Warnock.Loeffler is running for reelection against Warnock, while Republican Sen. David Purdue is opposed by Democrat Jon Ossoff. Former Dream player Layshia Clarendon, who has written and spoken out about Loeffler's comments, was also heavily involved in the planning of the WNBA players' campaign. Raphael Warnock, who is challenging Atlanta Dream co-owner Kelly Loeffler (R-Ga.) for her U.S. Senate seat. Mercury players wear 'Vote Warnock' shirts in pregame (0:23), Players wearing T-shirts opposing Dream owner, Week 1 WNBA Power Rankings: Seattle rises to the top, Liberty jump to No. We are in a moment of generational, transformative change, and there is no place in that movement for bigotry. "But very quickly we started to realize that this was only happening for her political gain. "What we're trying to do is first educate ourselves, and then educate everyone else. RELATED: Former Atlanta Dream player pushing for social justice reform reacts to Sen. Kelly Loeffler's Black Lives Matter opposition. Sue Bird of the Seattle Storm wears a "VOTE WARNOCK" shirt during an August game. ", Seattle guard Jordin Canada added that this "is bigger than basketball. Players on the WNBA team co-owned by Georgia Sen. Kelly Loeffler and other WNBA teams were seen wearing "Vote Warnock" shirts in support of her Senate challenger before their games on Tuesday. Players are wearing “Vote Warnock” T-shirts to games this week to support the Rev. Dream players responded by campaigning for Loeffler’s Democrat rival Raphael Warnock, pointedly wearing “Vote Warnock” t-shirts before a game against Phoenix in August. Those are the kind of people we want representing us, because that's what our league stands for.". “[Rev. After the game, several members of the Storm spoke about the process. We had an opportunity to be on two separate Zooms with him and see what he stands for and what he's fighting for," forward Breanna Stewart said. Williams said Seattle Storm guard Sue Bird initially came up with the idea. Following the Dream's 81-74 loss to the Phoenix Mercury on Tuesday night, the players' decision was a primary talking point. Raphael Warnock, who is challenging Atlanta Dream co-owner Kelly Loeffler (R-Ga.) for her U.S. Senate seat. Last month, Loeffler wrote a letter to WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert objecting to … "So, what a great way for us to get the word out about this man, and hopefully put him in the Senate. Don't boo...VOTE Register to vote at https://t.co/zXnPqmFZQ7 #Vote2020 pic.twitter.com/4yMmEqgXMS, Warnock, a Democrat who pastors Atlanta's historic Ebenezer Baptist Church, said in the release he was "honored and humbled by the overwhelming support from the WNBA players.". Phoenix Mercury players wear shirts saying "Vote Warnock" and "Black Lives Matter" before their game vs. the Atlanta Dream. "It's important for us to support voting and the overall campaign to flip the Senate," said Clarendon, who now plays for the New York Liberty. ATLANTA — Players around the WNBA began wearing "Vote Warnock" shirts on Tuesday, in response to Sen. Kelly Loeffler's opposition to the Black Lives Matter movement. "I think when all this stuff started happening with her, we didn't want to feel like we were pawns," Williams said. We celebrate the courage and resolve of these players standing for justice, and I am proud to stand with them.