Breanna Stewart Protests Minneapolis Shooting with ‘Abolish ICE’ Sign
Unrivaled co-founder and two-time WNBA MVP Breanna Stewart made headlines on Sunday by holding up an “Abolish ICE” sign during player introductions at the Unrivaled event. This act of protest came just a day after federal immigration officers were involved in the shooting deaths of a second person in Minneapolis this month.
“Really all day yesterday, I was just disgusted from everything that you see on Instagram and in the news,” Stewart stated, explaining her motivation for the protest. She emphasized that “everyone here [at Unrivaled] is feeling that way, one way or another.”
Stewart continued, “We’re so fueled by hate right now instead of love, so I wanted to have a simple message of ‘Abolish ICE,’ which means having policies to uplift families and communities instead of fueling fear and violence.”
The impact of recent ICE activities resonates personally with Stewart, whose wife is a Spanish citizen currently working toward U.S. citizenship. “It’s scary. You see it on social media, you see it splitting up families and dissecting communities and kids are being involved. It’s the worst in all ways,” she remarked.
Support for the protest was not limited to Stewart. Other WNBA players, including fellow Unrivaled co-founder Napheesa Collier, have expressed solidarity with Minneapolis protestors advocating against federal immigration enforcement.
Notably, Paige Bueckers, the 2025 No. 1 draft pick and Minnesota native, recently won a challenge at Unrivaled, pledging to match her $50,000 winnings in donations to the Hopkins Strong Relief Fund, promoting food security in her community.
“Sending all my love and prayers to Minnesota,” wrote Natisha Hiedeman, a guard for the Lynx. “I’m heartbroken to see ICE has flipped the city upside down and resorted to violence. There is no place for this.”
A moment of silence was observed before the tipoff of Saturday’s Unrivaled games to honor those affected by the recent events in Minnesota, with public address announcers urging reflection on the tragic circumstances.
Stewart asserted the importance of community advocacy: “Obviously, Minnesota is the place that everyone’s seeing is in crisis, but it’s happening in many more cities than just one.” She remains determined to use her platform to advocate for meaningful change.
Despite ongoing negotiations for a new collective bargaining agreement, Stewart reassured that their teams support the players’ advocacy efforts. “While we don’t agree on all things, we know that they’re supporting our platform, and we continue to fight in all the ways we can until we do come to a final agreement,” she concluded.
