Seattle Storm star and WNBPA president Nneka Ogwumike has the particular process of using the ability of the civically-engaged athlete within the upcoming election.
Again in August, Ogwumike was chosen by LeBron James to guide his Extra Than A Vote initiative, placing her in control of mobilizing athletes to encourage individuals to vote, selling political training and signing up ballot staff.
Extra Than A Vote was established in 2020 on the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic and the racial justice protests that adopted the police killings of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor and Ahmad Arbery. Ogwumike and her sister Chiney have been concerned in 2020; to now be in cost in 2024 supplies a substantial amount of that means for Ogwumike. She advised Swish Attraction:
I’m honored in all respects. I felt very honored and blessed to be handed the torch. This group has been so impactful for the athletes to be leaders and civically engaged. I felt honored LeBron selected me to maintain it going.
Ogwumike is gearing the initiative to give attention to reproductive freedom, which is a important challenge within the forthcoming election. This November, 10 states can have reproductive rights measures on the poll. Because the Supreme Courtroom’s overturning of Roe v. Wade in 2022, reproductive rights activists have centered the difficulty, whereas ladies athletes have expressed concern over their futures. The significance of bodily autonomy is one thing Ogwumike absolutely understands, given her standing as knowledgeable athlete.
“As ladies athletes, we receives a commission for our our bodies,” she mentioned.
Along with present WNBA gamers A’ja Wilson, Cameron Brink, Breanna Stewart and Brittney Griner, Extra Than A Vote has introduced alongside legends Lisa Leslie and Sheryl Swoopes, in addition to faculty gamers reminiscent of UCLA’s Kiki Rice. WNBA gamers even have donned shirts saying “Vote” in throughout heat ups. Outstanding male athletes like Steph Curry and Devin Booker, together with James himself, have lent their help, which serves to dismiss the notion that reproductive freedom solely is a ladies’s challenge.
Ogwumike is thought for her advocacy work. As WNBPA president, she helped spearhead the historic 2020 CBA, which gave WNBA gamers increased salaries and expanded advantages. She additionally was on the forefront of the organizing efforts engaged in by WNBA gamers within the 2020 “Wubble,” when the league took a robust stand for racial and social justice, particularly across the problems with police violence towards Black ladies and voting.
The league itself has all the time been on the frontlines on social activism in sports activities, relationship again to the 2016 protest by Minnesota Lynx and New York Liberty gamers following the police killings of Philando Castile and Alton Sterling, in addition to the killing of 5 Dallas cops. Their activism occurred one month earlier than San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick took a knee to protest police brutality through the enjoying of the nationwide anthem.
Given the WNBA is over 80 % Black and that a lot of gamers exist on the intersection of marginalized racial, gender and sexual identities, Ogwumike acknowledges that it’s important for the league to be socially lively. She emphasised to Swish Attraction:
I feel it has all the time been vital for us. However I do hope that our efforts proceed by way of many initiatives. We exist on a variety of these intersections given the composition of this league. It’s one thing we have now to do. We do it within the title of collaboration.
Past the election, Ogwumike has heard rumblings that she needs to be in line to be the following WNBA Commissioner, succeeding Cathy Englebert. She additionally has been inspired to take into account a run for public workplace sooner or later.
These choices should not off the desk for her. “I really feel like I must do extra on the court docket,” she mentioned. “I don’t essentially see myself doing that, however I’m not against closing doorways.”
