NFL
By: Zach Draves
In the midst of a global pandemic and systematic injustice, the 144 players of the WNBA took up the mantle for social responsibility in an unprecedented way.
Throughout the 2020 season confined in the “wubble” in Orlando, Florida, the players used their time down there to not only excel on the court but to amplify the cause for racial and social justice.
Their entire season was dedicated to black women and girls who have been murdered at the hands of police most notably Breonna Taylor and in conjunction with the #SayHerName campaign founded by the great Dr. Kimberle Crenshaw.
(Courtesy: The Undefeated)
The players also banded together to drive out voters to the polls and with the leadership of the Atlanta Dream they changed the course of American political history in the state of Georgia and drove out the racist former co-owner of the Dream Kelly Loeffler out of the US Senate after she made disparaging remarks about the Black Lives Matter movement.
All of this will be documented in an upcoming ESPN documentary called 144 premiering on May 13th.
(Courtesy: Youtube)
It will take us inside the wubble and see first hand the impact these ongoing crises had on the players.
The film will also get us a glimpse into the humanity of these players as moms, daughters, sisters, friends, teammates, and advocates.
(Courtesy: Yahoo)
So much of this new era of athlete activism is predicated on athletes being humanized and athletes taking control of the narrative utilizing social media and other media outlets.
The WNBA has taken that premise and maximized its capacity.
I got a chance to talk to the film’s director Jenna Contreas of ESPN who was down in the wubble covering the season to get her thoughts on why this film is timely and about how the landscape of women’s basketball is growing by the minute.
What inspired you to create this project?
I was luckily assigned to this project. I was assigned to it by my supervisor and even though I did not come up with the idea, the power and the poise of these women was inspiring.
July 13th is when I got on this project and over 10 months we worked on the documentary.
What do you hope audiences will take away from this film?
I hope people get out of this that these multi-diverse women are not just athletes. There is so much strength and vulnerability to these women and they are leading not just as athletes.
What would you say to those who claim women’s sports isn’t drawing viewers?
You’re not paying attention. They are not motivated by money and they are leading with a passion and true love for the game.
The Meaning of Sports
Jenna was candid in that sports has too often been associated with money and the binary of win/lose and while those aspects make sports exciting and teach valuable lessons, there also needs to be a focus on the sociocultural and emotional benefits that come with playing sports.
After all, our foundational love for sports comes from the love of the game in the first place.
That is what the 144 exudes and well.
This film is a must-see and will showcase the power that a professional sports league can have in utilizing their resources for social change and shaping history.
144 will be on ESPN on May 13th at 9 pm eastern time. Check your local listings.
