Last week, the WNBA fined multiple WNBA players for wearing T-shirts that read, “#BlackLivesMatter #Dallas5,” during warmups in response to the recent shooting deaths in the U.S.
According to Vibe, the WNBA fined the players and their teams because the attire violated the league’s uniform policy, which states that uniforms cannot be altered in any way. The league fined each player $500 and each team involved $5,000.
Now, after post-game protests and response on social media, league President Lisa Borders released a statement that said that all fines were rescinded, USA Today reported.
“All of us at the WNBA have the utmost respect and appreciation for our players expressing themselves on matters important to them,” Borders said in the statement. “While we expect players to comply with league rules and uniform guidelines, we also understand their desire to use their platform to address important societal issues.”
.@WNBAPrez, Lisa Borders statement on recent team and player uniform violation fines. pic.twitter.com/RJMZHQ0htL
— WNBA (@WNBA) July 23, 2016
Terri Jackson, Women’s National Basketball Players Association’s director of operations, released a statement expressing her approval of the league’s decision, according to USA Today.
“We are pleased that the WNBA has made the decision to rescind the fines the league handed down to the players on the [Indiana] Fever, [New York] Liberty and [Phoenix] Mercury,” Jackson said in the statement, according to USA Today. “We look forward to engaging in constructive dialogue with the league to ensure that the players’ desire to express themselves will continue to be supported.”
