By Sofia D'Antonio
On Saturday, June 27, the National Women’s Soccer League(NWSL) kicked off the season, becoming the first major sports league to begin since the pandemic struck. However, masks weren’t the only changes to North Carolina Courage and Portland Thorns’ players’ and staff's appearances; each person was seen sporting Black Lives Matter shirts and armbands.
This wasn’t the only effect the sweeping Black Lives Matter movement had on the teams in the NWSL because when the national anthem began to play, every player from both teams had taken a knee at Zions Bank Stadium, Utah.
Portland Thorns(left) and North Carolina Courage(right) kneel during the national anthem
“We took a knee today to protest the racial injustice, police brutality, and systematic racism against Black people and people of color in America,” the players from both teams said in an online statement.
"We love our country, and we have taken this opportunity to hold it to a higher standard. It is our duty to demand that the liberties and freedoms this nation was founded upon are extended to everyone."
The impact of the movement did not stop there as only hours later that same day, a second game was played by the Chicago Redstars and the Washington Spirit, where most players found themselves kneeling in protest. Casey Short, one of the Redstar’s defenders, not only was on the ground but began sobbing at the emotional aspect the movement had set into play. Julie Ertz, team captain for Chicago, knelt next to Short, keeping a supportive arm around her teammate’s shoulder. Rachel Hill, another Redstar to the right of Short, laid a hand on Short’s shoulder despite standing, which she later explained in an online post was for her military family.
Casey Short(center) and Julie Ertz(second to the left) share an emotional moment together with Rachel Hill(second to right) standing with hand on Short’s shoulder
The players and staff of the NWSL have continued to display their support of the Black Lives Matter movement through shirts, armbands, and an effort to kneel during the national anthem at each game in protest.
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