John Bazemore/Linked Press
Atlanta Dream guard Renee Montgomery announced Thursday she’s going to take a seat out the 2020 WNBA season to point of interest on social justice work off the court docket.
Renee Montgomery @itsreneem_
After powerful notion, I’ve decided to opt out of the 2020 WNBA season. There’s work to be carried out off the court docket in so many areas in our community. Social justice reform isn’t going to happen in a single day nonetheless I construct in actual fact feel that now may perchance well well be the time and Moments equal Momentum. Lets support it going!
Dream head coach Nicki Collen issued an announcement on Montgomery’s willpower:
“While I am saddened Renee may perchance well perchance no longer be in a Dream uniform this summer season, I am incredibly happy with her passion for her foundation, her outreach within the neighborhood and her likelihood to affect the Unlit Lives Matter motion with her platform as a WNBA athlete. As a coach in this league I understand that I’m in a position to’t exact voice we are ‘bigger than ball’ nonetheless pretty I ought to embody it.”
Minnesota Lynx smartly-known particular person Maya Moore educated the Contemporary York Instances‘ Kurt Streeter in January she would be skipping her 2d straight season to point of interest on getting Jonathan Irons launched from penal advanced.
A judge overturned Irons’ convictions for burglary and assault in March.
The Hartford Courant‘s Alexa Philippou wrote final week that Montgomery had been handing out water bottles at Unlit Lives Matter protests in Atlanta. The 2011 All-Big title additionally space up a GoFundMe to raise money for water and assorted presents.
“Heaps of people are craving sports actions and craving something to receive some distance flung from reality, to exact rating a device to head look a game and receive some distance flung from it,” Montgomery mentioned. “I’m craving the opposite. I’m craving being a a part of the motion and seeing the alternate.”
The WNBA’s 2020 season has been delayed by the COVID-19 pandemic. The league announced Monday it changed into once planning to stage a 22-game regular season and feeble postseason at IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida.
