Following in the footsteps of athletes around the country, the California women’s basketball team used their platform to vocie their opinions on social injustices.
The lady Golden Bears wore t-shirts prior to Saturday’s game with “#BlackLivesMatter” taped on their backs.
"As student-athletes at Cal, our young women have a voice and a platform, and they chose to use it today." pic.twitter.com/2Xy8Vt6tug
— Cal Basketball (@CalWBBall) December 14, 2014
Head coach Lindsay Gottlieb released this statement in support of her student atletes.
“I’m a basketball coach, and I’m competitive and winning is important. Our standards at Cal are high, and of course losing this game is disappointing. That said, however, I’m not sure I’ve ever been more proud of these players or our whole team and staff.
As student-athletes at Cal, our young women have a voice and a platform, and they chose to use it today. They want to be part of a solution, and they took the steps that were in their power today.
I wish we had won today. It was a brutal loss, but our players wearing handmade shirts to symbolize something poignant and important is what I will remember proudly from today. I love this team and staff for who they are as people.” – Lindsay Gottlieb
It is very important that people understand these actions from athletes mean something and are promoting change. Great to see the university behind them.