WNBA stars rally against Texas abortion ban in full-page NYT ad from players' union
- WNBA players have publicly decried Texas' abortion law in a statement supporting reproductive rights.
- The statement was featured in a full-page ad in the New York Times by the WNBA Players Association.
The WNBA players' union has publicly declared their opposition to Texas' six-week abortion ban, October 17, in a statement signed by players and featured in a full-page ad in Sunday's print edition of the New York Times.
The move is a first for the organization despite other forms of advocacy for social justice issues, according to The 19th, who broke the news of the ad.
"You've seen the players stand up in a myriad of ways," Terri Jackson, executive director of the WNBA Players Association, told The 19th. "We haven't done this before."
The WNBA union ad follows weeks of advocacy in women's sports. Last month, more than 500 athletes signed an amicus brief to the Supreme Court in favor of protecting "Roe v. Wade" and the constitutional right to abortion.
Signatories of that brief included WNBA stars like Diana Taurasi, Layshia Clarendon, Sue Bird, and Ogwumike, as well as soccer players from the US Women's National Team such as Megan Rapinoe, Becky Sauerbrunn, and Lynn Williams, Insider's Meredith Cash previously reported.
Clarendon, who uses all pronouns, said in a previous statement on the amicus brief that abortion rights are critical to bodily agency as well as healthcare access.
"I've seen firsthand how critical a role high-quality, compassionate medical care can play in the life of an athlete, and that is something I am prepared to defend with everything I have," they said.
Abortion rights have faced recent challenges in multiple states, including Arizona, Missouri, Ohio, and Alabama. However, Texas' law has been considered the most restrictive, prohibiting termination of pregnancy after six weeks, effectively ending access to abortion in Texas. The resulting controversy prompted a federal judge to temporarily block enforcement of the law and the Department of Justice to sue the state of Texas.