After recent criticism from WNBA fans about the league issuing $5000 fines to teams and $500 to individual players wearing #BlackLivesMatter t-shirts at their games, the WNBA front office has ultimately decided to rescind those fines.
Since the Minnesota Lynx came out on July 11 with their t-shirts that caused off-duty police security to walk on the game, there has been much debate about the double standards of fines that were issued to WNBA teams thereafter. Bear in mind, the t-shirts the Lynx wore were to honor the lost lives of Philando Castile, Alton Sterling, and from the recent shooting of the Dallas Police Department at a #BlackLivesMatter protest.
The NBA and WNBA showed their support in the NYC Pride Parade on June 26 as the first pro sports leagues to have their own float in the annual festival, partially showing support for the victims of the Orlando massacre that same month. Also, NBA players weren't fined for wearing "I Can't Breathe" t-shirts that reflect the #BlackLivesMatter movement.
WNBA commissioner Lisa Borders tweeted a statement on rescinding the fines to the league's players making their political statements with the t-shirts:
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The WNBA is currently celebrating its 20th anniversary season, yet continues to financially struggle towards solvency. Although, this political discourse for the league has arguably garnered the most relevancy in the sports world it's had since the WNBA launched in 1997.
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