Historic Senate Win is Thanks to WNBA Athlete Activists

January 6, 2020 (New York, NY) — Athlete Ally responded today to the historic Senate victories of Rev. Raphael Warnock and Jon Ossoff in Georgia, giving Democrats slim majorities in both chambers of Congress with Vice President-Elect Harris giving the tie-breaking vote in the Senate.

Warnock, Georgia’s first Black Senator, triumphed over an opponent that attacked the #BlackLivesMatter movement and the rights of transgender youth athletes. Since the summer, WNBA players have been mobilizing support for Warnock and civic engagement among voters, with NBA players and other athletes following suit. Their support bolstered him from 9% approval ratings to the victory we see today.

“There could not be a more salient example of the power of athlete activism than what we’ve just seen in Georgia,” said Joanna Hoffman, Communications Director at Athlete Ally. “WNBA players, and especially the Atlanta Dream, used their tremendous platforms to speak out against bigotry and in support of compassion and integrity. They gave their time, energy, voices and hearts to this cause, energizing teammates, fans and, most impactfully, voters.

Black athletes in women’s sports led the way, and have historically even though history all too often erases their accomplishments. We have tremendous gratitude for these athletes, for Black organizers and leaders like Stacey Abrams and Rev. Warnock, and for Black voters who made this victory possible. Thanks to them, we will have more leaders in the Senate who stand for equality and justice.

We can never forget the power of athlete activism we were shown in this moment. We are infinitely better as a society when athletes refuse to “stick to sports” and use their voices to make the incredible possible.”