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Breonna Taylor's mother praises NBA, WNBA voices advocating for justice in her case

cassandra negley
Women's basketball reporter
·3 min read

Breonna Taylor’s mother is praising NBA and WNBA stars for keeping attention on her daughter’s death and fighting for justice in the case. Both leagues will begin this month with special tributes to Taylor and the Black Lives Matter movement.

Breonna Taylor’s mother praises WNBA, NBA voices

Tamika Palmer, Taylor’s mother, told TMZ Sports:

“Everyone raising their voices for justice are what keeps this family going each day,” Palmer said.

“What is being done by the NBA and the WNBA is amazing. Now, it’s time for the attorney general to listen, to charge everyone responsible for Bree’s murder and to get overdue justice.

“Bree should be with us. The world was a better place with her.”

Taylor, a 26-year-old Black woman who worked as an EMT, was shot and killed in Louisville when police entered her home the night of March 13 on a no-knock warrant. More than 20 bullets were fired into the apartment while Taylor and her boyfriend were sleeping. There have been no charges or arrests in her case and the Louisville Courier-Journal reported over the weekend that Taylor was still alive after police shot her, but no effort was made to save her.

Palmer was also involved in a Zoom call over the weekend with more than 30 NBA players who spoke about how they can best use their platform to get the family justice, family attorney Lonita Baker told TMZ Sports. The list included Chris Paul and Carmelo Anthony.

Players in both the NBA and WNBA have used their platforms to advocate for Taylor’s family and for reforms in policing and racial injustice. They will both honor the Black Lives Matter movement when their bubble-site seasons begin this month.

NBA players speak out in interviews

Philadelphia 76ers forward Tobias Harris followed the footsteps of WNBA players before him — namely the Washington Mystics’ Natasha Cloud — and had a media blackout on Monday. Rather than answer a question about the social justice shirts the players association is making, he lobbied for justice for Taylor.

Players retweeted the moment with praise and their own calls for justice. Denver Nuggets forward Jerami Grant did the same in an interview last week.

The courts at Disney World in Orlando will have “Black Lives Matter” on them and players can wear preapproved social justice messages on their jerseys.

WNBA honors Taylor on jerseys

As Tamika Palmer, left, the mother of Breonna Taylor looks on, the artist Common addresses the crowd gathered on the steps of at the Kentucky State Capitol in Frankfort, Ky., Thursday, June 25, 2020. The rally was held to demand justice in the death of Taylor who was killed in her apartment by members of the Louisville Metro Police Department on March 13, 2020. (AP Photo/Timothy D. Easley)
Tamika Palmer, left, listens to artist Common address a rally in Kentucky. Palmer, the mother of Breonna Taylor, praised the WNBA and NBA for their advocacy. (AP Photo/Timothy D. Easley)

The WNBA will begin its 2020 season on Saturday from IMG Academy in Florida when Sabrina Ionescu’s New York Liberty face the Seattle Storm and stars Breanna Stewart and Sue Bird.

Throughout the weekend, all team uniforms will feature Taylor’s name. Players can decide if they want to continue wearing her name in games for the rest of the season.

Las Vegas Aces star Angel McCoughtry first brokered the idea last month to “plant the seed” and work toward continuing social justice platforms. McCoughtry and fellow players have continued to tweet about Taylor and the case to keep her name trending and in fans’ minds.

The courts will also say “Black Lives Matter” and warm-up shirts will feature it on the front as well as “Say Her Name” on the back. The WNBA specifically wants to raise awareness for Black women and girls who are forgotten victims of police abuse.

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