Brianna Stewart, a prominent player for the New York Liberty and a leading voice in the WNBA, once again demonstrated her commitment to social justice on Sunday by speaking out against U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Prior to Mist BC’s Unrivaled League game against Vinyl BC, Stewart held a sign showing solidarity with the victims of a recent ICE shooting in Minneapolis and called for the agency’s abolition.
The incident involving ICE triggered nationwide protests and blackouts following the shooting deaths of Renee Good, a single mother, and Alex Preti, an intensive care nurse in Minnesota. Stewart’s decision to display the message before the game drew significant attention, and she later affirmed her stance during the post-game press conference.
Expressing deep frustration over the tragic events in Minnesota, Stewart shared, “I know my values and where I stand, but all day yesterday I was kind of fed up with it—everything you see on Instagram and the news.” She emphasized her desire to spread positivity and uplift her community, values she feels ICE undermines. Stewart continued, “We are so fueled by hate right now, not love. We wanted to send a simple message: abolish ICE, and that means uplifting families and communities, not inciting fear and violence. I think that’s more important than anything when human lives are at stake.”
During player introductions on Sunday, Stewart’s powerful two-word message “Abolish ICE” highlighted her solidarity with protesters demanding justice after the fatal federal shooting of Alex Preti in Minneapolis. Alongside her activism, Stewart delivered an impressive performance on the court, finishing with 21 points and 11 rebounds, reinforcing her role as both a sports and social leader.
Fan Take: Brianna Stewart’s bold activism underscores the growing role of WNBA players as champions of social change, reminding fans that the league is about more than just basketball. Her courage in using her platform to address critical issues can inspire deeper community engagement and elevate the WNBA’s influence both on and off the court.
