The WNBA has never shied away from using its voice, and that tradition continues. On June 12, the Women’s National Basketball Players Association joined hands with the National Women’s Soccer League Players Association to address a world in distress. In the aftermath, players like Angel Reese and Cameron Brink echoed that message, reinforcing the league’s long-standing commitment to empathy, justice, and unity beyond the court for the community.

On Saturday, Alex Jeffrey Pretti was fatally shot by a Border Patrol agent in Minneapolis, Minnesota, with citizens expressing their outrage upon seeing the footage of the fatal incident. Immediately, social media was ablaze with posts of the shooting as citizens made their anger known. 

With protests breaking out across the state, according to the Washington Post, “roughly 100 clergy were arrested without incident during a protest against deportation flights at Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport”. Seeing that report, Los Angeles Sparks star Cameron Brink was quick to repost that to her story. She propagated the news to her 1.3 million followers on Instagram. 

Brink further reposted a post from NY Times author Meena Harris. The post said, “New video shows the final act of his life was trying to help a woman who was being physically assaulted by masked agents who would then kill him.” While Brink shared news, Chicago Sky star Angel Reese had a simple message. “Praying for our country🥺🙏🏽,” she wrote.

Both WNBA stars will continue their offseasons in different directions. Brink is playing the offseason league Unrivaled, while Angel Reese has multiple collaborations lined up. Their reactions weren’t isolated. The WNBA offshoot Unrivaled also acknowledged the tragedy.

Napheesa Collier’s Unrivaled sends their prayers 

Unrivaled, the 3v3 league founded by Napheesa Collier and Breanna Stewart, is currently in full flow. The league began on January 6th, when the tensions in Minnesota and across the country were already high. However, after the recent outpouring and sensitive incidents, the league did its part in sending its prayers.

Unrivaled held a moment of silence before their games tonight, “to take a moment to reflect on the recent tragic events in Minnesota.” (via Alexa Phillippou) “Our thoughts and support are with everyone affected, and we send our deepest sympathies to those who have lost a loved one,” the league expressed. 

Even though the Unrivaled’s message comes from a broader societal perspective, it too has a personal connection. Collier, one of the founders of the league, plays for the Minnesota Lynx. Collier and Stewart are also vice presidents in the WNBPA, who were involved in releasing the June 12 statement.

Top Stories

PGA Tour Pro Loses His Cool After Being Denied Entry Into WM Phoenix Open Field

Giannis Antetokounmpo All but Confirms Warriors Trade With 6-Figure Decision: NBA Rumor

Brooks Koepka’s Unscathed Return Upsets Viktor Hovland as PGA Tour Pro Refuses to Hold Back

U.S. Senator Announces Bad News For NFL Fans After Donald Trump’s Ruling on ESPN’s Billion-Dollar Takeover

Josh Allen’s Former Coach Breaks Silence on Buffalo Exit as Joe Brady Assembles Bills’ Staff

Mike McCarthy Receives Bad News as Aaron Rodgers’ Return to Steelers Faces Major Setback

Not just Unrivaled, but the entire state is on its toes. Even in the NBA, the Minnesota Timberwolves vs. Golden State Warriors game was suspended. In a statement, the NBA said the game was postponed “to prioritize the safety and security of the Minneapolis community.” As the administration works to normalize and control the chain of events, families and fans pray for peace.