“Sitting Out to Stand Up”
This hand-built floor piece is about the four Women (Natasha Cloud, Maya Moore, Tiffany Hayes, and Renee Montgomery) who forfeited their 2020 WNBA seasons to focus on social advocacy. The jerseys on the ground followed by the golden footprints off of the court represent the noble actions of these four Women.
Background
In the midst of a global pandemic, multiplied by racial tension, the country was at its pinnacle of social divide. Four WNBA players decided to forfeit their seasons to focus on social justice initiatives. Led by Maya Moore, Natasha Cloud, Tiffany Hayes, and Renee Montgomery decided to sit out their 2020 WNBA season. Each of them have made extremely significant impacts off of the court that pertain to social advocacy. Natasha Cloud has been extremely vocal on social media in giving a voice to the unheard. Maya Moore has been instrumental in the space of prison reform. She also managed to free a wrongfully convicted man, who has now become her husband. Renee Montgomery is now a part owner of the Atlanta Dream, has a podcast that addresses the full scope of social issues in American sports, and has since retired from playing. Tiffany Hayes was a huge reinforcement in the WNBA’s support of social activism as well as their impact in the 2020 Georgia senate runoff.
