With Napheesa Collier sidelined from Unrivaled due to injury, Breanna Stewart has stepped into a leadership role. But the 3-on-3 league isn’t the only thing on her mind.

The two-time WNBA MVP held up an “Abolish ICE” sign during player introductions at Unrivaled, a day after recent ICE-related incidents made national headlines.

“Really, all day yesterday, I was just disgusted by everything I saw on Instagram and in the news,” Stewart said. “Everyone here at Unrivaled is feeling that way in one form or another.”

“We’re so fueled by hate right now instead of love,” she added. “So I wanted to have a simple message of ‘Abolish ICE,’ which, to me, means having policies that uplift families and communities instead of fueling fear and violence.”

For Stewart, the issue hits especially close to home. Her wife, Marta Xargay Casademont, is a Spanish citizen and is still in the process of obtaining U.S. citizenship.

As she protested, her message quickly drew support across the WNBA.

How WNBA Players and Unrivaled are Standing Together?

Among them was Napheesa Collier, Stewart’s fellow Unrivaled co-founder and a Minnesota Lynx star, who shared posts supporting the thousands of protesters in Minneapolis.

Paige Bueckers also showed her support. After winning $50,000 in an Unrivaled free-throw challenge, she pledged to donate the entire amount to the Hopkins Strong Relief Fund, which supports food security.

Natisha Hiedeman added her voice as well. “Minnesota is such a beautiful place with an amazing community that has embraced me fully,” Hiedeman wrote on her Instagram story. “I’m heartbroken to see ICE flip the city upside down and resort to violence. There is no place for this.”

Even before tipoff on Saturday, Unrivaled held a moment of silence. “Let’s take a moment to reflect on the recent tragic events in Minnesota,” the public address announcer said.

While Stewart may have sparked the conversation, she isn’t standing alone. This time, the entire WNBA community is behind the cause.

Written by

Yashika Dutta

Edited by

Joyita Das