Kyrie Irving Commits $1.5M to Supplement Income of WNBA Players Sitting Out the Season

*Kyrie Irving is paying it forward to the WNBA.

The Brooklyn Nets star is giving $1.5 million to players who choose to sit out this season due to coronavirus (COVID-19) concerns or social justice issues, PEOPLE reports. 

“With the help of Natasha Cloud and Jewell Loyd, I have connected with several WNBA players who have decided to play and those who have decided not to play,” said Irving, 28, whose donation is through his newly formed KAI Empowerment Initiative. 

“In these conversations, I have learned about the challenges and opportunities of their decisions and how it will impact their lives, family, and overall well being,” he added.

He continued: “This platform was created to provide support for all WNBA players in hopes to relieve some of the financial strain imposed during these challenging times. Whether a person decided to fight for social justice, play basketball, focus on physical or mental health, or simply connect with their families, this initiative can hopefully support their priorities and decisions.”

OTHER NEWS YOU MIGHT HAVE MISSED: ‘All In: The Fight for Democracy’ Featuring Stacey Abrams to Launch Via Amazon Studios in Sept.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

This has been one of the toughest decisions of my career. But, I will be foregoing the 2020 WNBA season. There’s a lot of factors that led to this decision, but the biggest being that I am more than an athlete. I have a responsibility to myself, to my community, and to my future children to fight for something that is much bigger than myself and the game of basketball. I will instead, continue the fight on the front lines for social reform, because until black lives matter, all lives can’t matter. #TogetherWeStand #BLM #illbeback #2021

A post shared by Tasha Cloud?9️⃣ (@t__cloud9) on Jun 22, 2020 at 3:30pm PDT

The WNBA kicked off their 2020 season on Saturday.

“We are dedicating this season to Breonna Taylor, an outstanding EMT who was murdered over 130 days ago in her home,” Liberty point guard Layshia Clarendon said at mid-court. “Breonna Taylor was dedicated and committed to uplifting everyone around here.”

Natasha Cloud, Atlanta Dream guard Renee Montgomery and several other players have reportedly opted not to play. They will instead use heir platform to focus on social reform. 

“I have a responsibility to myself, to my community, and to my future children to fight for something that is much bigger than myself and the game of basketball,” Cloud, 28, wrote on Instagram. “I will instead, continue the fight on the front lines for social reform, because until black lives matter, all lives can’t matter.”

We Publish News 24/7. Don’t Miss A Story. Click HERE to SUBSCRIBE to Our Newsletter Now!