Photo: John Bazemore, G/O Media (AP)
When former Atlanta Dream guard Renee Montgomery decided to sit out during the 2020 WNBA season in order to focus on social justice issues, it was the officer-related death of George Floyd that compelled her to act. But little did she know that this tragedy would also serve as a catalyst for a series of events that would eventually position her to make history.
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In the immediate aftermath of Floyd’s death, the WNBA went to work. The league launched a Social Justice Council, players donned warmups with phrases like “Black Lives Matter” and “Say Her Name”, and similar messaging was emblazoned on the court itself. But not everyone within the league was on board with being at the forefront of this social justice movement, as former Georgia Senator and Atlanta Dream co-owner Kelly Loeffler was vocal in her opposition to everything Black Lives Matter stands for.