June 4, 2021
Here’s your June 2021 WNBA Pride guide
By Tee Baker
WNBA will promote initiatives that advocate for, support and celebrate the LGBTQ+ community
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In observance of WNBA Pride, the WNBA will promote initiatives that advocate for, support and celebrate the LGBTQ+ community and its allies throughout June. These initiatives support health equity, LGBTQ+ advocacy with a focus on trans rights, and civic engagement, the three key priorities for the WNBA/WNBPA Social Justice Council’s platform.
“The WNBA’s commitment to equity, justice, diversity and inclusion is year-long, but this month is a special celebration of the LGBTQ+ community,” said WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert. “We also wanted to specifically voice our support of the trans community as our WNBA/WNBPA Social Justice Council continues to focus on rights for non-binary and trans people. We are honored to collaborate with WNBA Changemaker Deloitte to continue to shine light on combatting inequities and promoting advocacy for LGBTQ+ rights.”
Teams will offer special ticket packages, in-arena experiences and Pride-themed games and community events during the month. WNBA Pride kicked off a slate of ten Pride-themed games with two nationally-televised games on June 1st. Kia Nurse secured an 84-83 win for the Phoenix Mercury over Chicago with a buzzer-beating, just inside half-court game-winner on ESPN, and Seattle took care of business by soundly defeating the Indiana Fever by 15 points in front of a national audience on ESPN2.
The action continues Saturday, June 5 with a double-header on ABC, as 2020 WNBA MVP A’ja Wilson and the Las Vegas Aces visit former WNBA MVP Tina Charles and the Washington Mystics (1 p.m. ET) followed by the Chicago Sky matching up against the Los Angeles Sparks (3 p.m. ET). The CBS Television Network will feature two key matchups with the Connecticut Sun visiting the Sky (2 p.m. ET) on Saturday, June 19, and the Mystics traveling to Texas on Saturday, June 26, to take on the league’s 2020 leading scorer Arike Ogunbowale and the Dallas Wings (1 p.m. ET).
As part of its 2021 Pride advocacy, the WNBA will also conduct league and team ally education sessions on trans inclusivity. WNBA social channels will promote the importance of taking a stand for equity and inclusion for the LGBTQ+ community with #wnbapride.
Throughout June, the WNBA will collaborate with GLSEN and Fanatics on an exclusive line of Pride apparel including WNBA t-shirts from Fanatics Brands, with all WNBA proceeds benefiting GLSEN. Fans can purchase the shirts at wnbastore.nba.com.
Written by Tee Baker
Tee has been a contributor to The Next since March Madness 2021 and is currently a contributing editor, BIG EAST beat reporter and curator of historical deep dives.
