USWNT players will wear 'Black Lives Matter' warm-ups ahead of their first game in 261 days

• The US Women's National Team will wear "Black Lives Matter" warm-up jackets ahead of its first match in 261 days.
• In a video released by the team, players explained that the decision "is not political, it's a statement on human rights."
• The USWNT will kick off against the Netherlands at 12:45 p.m. EST in a highly-anticipated rematch of their 2019 World Cup final bout.

Players on the US Women's National Team have never shied away from fighting for what they believe in, and their first game in 261 days is no exception.

The 23 players who made the trip overseas for the USWNT's game against the Netherlands Friday will wear "Black Lives Matter" warm-up jackets ahead of their highly-anticipated matchup against the Netherlands.

In a video released by the team, players explained that the decision to wear the words "Black Lives Matter" across their chests "is not political." Rather, they intend to make "a statement on human rights."

"As a team, we work towards a society where the American ideals are upheld and Black lives are no longer systemically targeted.," players said in the video. "We collectively acknowledge injustice, as that is the first step in working towards correcting it."

"To honor the words of the great John Lewis: 'When you see something that is not right, not fair, not just; say something, do something, get in trouble — necessary trouble,'" they added.

Players also shared a written joint statement on their individual social media accounts:

The USWNT has a long history of using its platform to push back against injustice. Back in March, players partook in a silent protest against the US Soccer Federation by wearing their warm-up jerseys inside out after filings in their equal pay lawsuit suggested that unequal pay for women is fair because "men are bigger, stronger, faster."

Long before then, Megan Rapinoe became one of the first professional athletes to kneel during the national anthem alongside Colin Kaepernick in protest of police brutality and racial injustice in America. Four years later, US Soccer apologized to Rapinoe for the way it handled her demonstrations.

The USWNT's rematch of its 2019 World Cup final bout against the Netherlands Friday marks its first game outside of the United States since the team captured its fourth star two summers ago. Though the team will boast a new look with a mix of veterans and fresh faces — including newly-minted head coach Vlatko Andonovski — the USWNT still retains its No. 1 ranking in the world. The Dutch, meanwhile, clock in at fourth on the list.

Alex Morgan, Rose Lavelle, and company kick off against the Netherlands at 12:45 p.m. EST Friday. Viewers can tune in on ESPN2.

• Read more:
• Get to know the newest additions to the USWNT ahead of the team's 2019 World Cup final rematch against the Netherlands
• Megan Rapinoe, Carli Lloyd, and 7 other 2019 World Cup stars were left off of the USWNT's roster just 8 months ahead of the Olympics
• Alex Morgan's 6-month-old daughter has been the star of USWNT camp, and her 22 new aunts are competing to be her bestie
• The USWNT will return to action without one of its most dominant stars after she tests positive for COVID-19