#athlete-activism

#athlete-activism

It brings up mixed emotions to represent the U.S. right now,

Over the last year, the Tr*mp administration has aimed to eradicate trans people from public life, issuing executive orders that curtail their access to healthcare and vital services. Trans people also face restrictions on selecting their gender for travel documents, using public restrooms and the ability to serve openly in the military. Last year, the Supreme Court upheld a state ban on gender-affirming care for minors, and seems poised to uphold a trans sports ban this session.

I think in moments like these, it is really important for us to unite and kind of stand up for one another for all that's going on,

"I think there's a natural tendency to be like, 'Oh, we're cooked,'" said Rapinoe. "Let's get that out of our mouths and our head and our soul."

Over the weekend, the basketball star Breanna Stewart didn't have her normal bounce during player introductions. As soon as the announcer shouted her name, Stewart walked out holding a white sign with a message: Abolish ICE. "I think that when human lives are at stake, it's bigger than anything else," Stewart said at a press conference following the game with Unrivaled, a three-on-three professional basketball league she co-founded in 2024.

Houston Texans linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair has been fined $11,593 for wearing eye black that contained the message "stop the genocide" during last week's wild-card game, a source told ESPN's Adam Schefter on Sunday. Al-Shaair was fined for violating NFL uniform and equipment rules by wearing eye black that contained a personal message. The message was in reference to concerns over Israel's policies in Gaza, where tens of thousands have been killed in Israeli military operations following the deadly Hamas attack on Israel in October 2023.