WNBPA says it did not ask WNBA to drop USA 250 All-Star patch after union officer publicly objected
The WNBA Players Association says it did not ask the league to abandon a reported plan to place USA 250 patches on its All-Star uniforms, despite public criticism of the idea from one of the union’s elected officers.In a statement to OutKick and Fox News Digital, the WNBPA said members of player leadership contacted the league after Sportico reported that the patches would appear on the uniforms during Saturday’s All-Star Game in Chicago.WNBA COMMISSIONER VOWS TO CRACK DOWN ON 'RACISM, MISOGYNY,' DODGES BIG QUESTIONS AT ALL-STAR PRESS CONFERENCEAccording to the union, the WNBA said at the time that no final decision had been made. The league later informed player leaders that it would instead commemorate the country’s 250th anniversary through "America 250" signage in and around the arena and by honoring veterans during the game."The league did not seek union input nor was the matter put before player leadership for action," the WNBPA told OutKick/Fox News Digital.The statement undercuts the claim that the union formally demanded that the patches be removed, or held a vote opposing them.
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The WNBA Players Association says it did not ask the league to abandon a reported plan to place USA 250 patches on its All-Star uniforms, despite public criticism of the idea from one of the union’s elected officers.In a statement to OutKick and Fox News Digital, the WNBPA said members of player leadership contacted the league after Sportico reported that the patches would appear on the uniforms during Saturday’s All-Star Game in Chicago.WNBA COMMISSIONER VOWS TO CRACK DOWN ON 'RACISM, MISOGYNY,' DODGES BIG QUESTIONS AT ALL-STAR PRESS CONFERENCEAccording to the union, the WNBA said at the time that no final decision had been made. The league later informed player leaders that it would instead commemorate the country’s 250th anniversary through "America 250" signage in and around the arena and by honoring veterans during the game."The league did not seek union input nor was the matter put before player leadership for action," the WNBPA told OutKick/Fox News Digital.The statement undercuts the claim that the union formally demanded that the patches be removed, or held a vote opposing them. It doesn’t explain why the WNBA decided against putting the patch on the uniforms after Sportico reported that the league planned to do so, or whether the public objection from WNBPA treasurer Brianna Turner influenced that decision.The WNBA did not respond to questions from OutKick and Fox News Digital about the union’s statement, who made the final decision or why the league chose not to use the patch.The patches are part of a national initiative that has included the NFL, NBA, NHL, MLB, MLS, NASCAR, UFC and WWE. Every player wore one during the Super Bowl, while NBA players wore them throughout the Finals.The WNBA was not listed in the initial Fanatics and America250 announcement, but Sportico later reported that the league planned to use the patches during All-Star Weekend.Then the proposal reached the WNBA.Las Vegas Aces forward Brianna Turner, who serves as treasurer of the WNBA Players Association and sits on its executive committee, publicly criticized the reported plan."Whoever called for the WNBA all-star uniforms to have the USA 250 patch should have thought that through considering no WNBA players would have been free 250 years ago," Turner wrote on social media.She added that the league’s players are among the world’s most elite female athletes, but that 250 years ago they would have been "breeders or in the fields working all day.""Be so serious rn," Turner concluded.WNBA PLAYER SAYS THE LEAGUE SHOULDN'T WEAR USA 250 PATCHES FOR THE ALL-STAR GAME BECAUSE OF SLAVERYTurner’s comments came before members of player leadership contacted the league about the Sportico report.
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- The WNBA Players Association says it did not ask the league to abandon a reported plan to place USA 250 patches on its All-Star uniforms, despite public criticism of the idea from one of the union’s elected officers.In a statement to OutKick and Fox News Digital, the WNBPA said members of player leadership contacted the league after Sportico reported that the patches would appear on the uniforms during Saturday’s All-Star Game in Chicago.WNBA COMMISSIONER VOWS TO CRACK DOWN ON 'RACISM, MISOGYNY,' DODGES BIG QUESTIONS AT ALL-STAR PRESS CONFERENCEAccording to the union, the WNBA said at the time that no final decision had been made. The league later informed player leaders that it would instead commemorate the country’s 250th anniversary through "America 250" signage in and around the arena and by honoring veterans during the game."The league did not seek union input nor was the matter put before player leadership for action," the WNBPA told OutKick/Fox News Digital.The statement undercuts the claim that the union formally demanded that the patches be removed, or held a vote opposing them.
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WNBPA says it did not ask WNBA to drop USA 250 All-Star patch after union officer publicly objected
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