The US Supreme Court decided by six votes to three to overturn the 50-year-old Roe v Wade judgement that guaranteed access to abortion across the country.
U.S. national soccer team star Megan Rapinoe expressed her anger Friday over the Supreme Court라이브 바카라 decision to strip the nation라이브 바카라 constitutional protections for abortion, decrying an erosion of rights that women have had for a generation. (More Sports News)
“I think the cruelty is the point because this is not pro life by any means,” said Rapinoe, who was close to tears at times as she expressed her outrage.
The always outspoken Rapinoe was joined by some of the country라이브 바카라 leading sports figures in publicly sharing their dismay, anger and concern after the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, which guaranteed a woman라이브 바카라 constitutional right to abortion.
Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James tweeted that the ruling was about “ power and control,” and he retweeted a couple posts about the effect of the decision on Black women.
In a joint statement, NBA Commissioner Adam Silver and WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert said the leagues “believe that women should be able to make their own decisions concerning their health and future, and we believe that freedom should be protected.”
“We will continue to advocate for gender and health equity, including ensuring our employees have access to reproductive health care, regardless of their location,” they said.
Rapinoe is in Colorado as the two-time defending World Cup champions prepare for a game Saturday against Colombia. As a gay woman, she also spoke about fears that the conservative court would come for her rights next.
“We live in country that forever tries to chip away what you have innately, what you have been privileged enough to feel your entire life,” she said.
The high court라이브 바카라 decision will directly impact women who play for teams in states that could ban abortions outright in the wake of the ruling.
That is the situation in Kentucky, home of Racing Louisville of the National Women라이브 바카라 Soccer League, where access to abortion ended abruptly with Friday라이브 바카라 ruling.
Kentucky had a trigger law enacted in 2019, that now ends nearly all abortions in that state.
“Kentuckians requiring an abortion will be forced to drive an average of 245 miles for proper health care in the wake of today라이브 바카라 Supreme Court decision. This development leaves us especially concerned about marginalized members of our community and future Supreme Court decisions that could impact them,” Racing Louisville said in a statement.
In Florida, a new law goes into effect on July 1 that will ban all abortions after 15 weeks. The NWSL라이브 바카라 Orlando Pride put out a joint statement with Orlando City of Major League Soccer.
“Access to safe reproductive health care and having autonomy over one라이브 바카라 body are basic, nonnegotiable human rights, and our club deeply objects to today라이브 바카라 Supreme Court decision,” it said.
Texas, home to the NWSL라이브 바카라 Houston Dash and the WNBA라이브 바카라 Dallas Wings, is among 13 states that have trigger laws similar to Kentucky. Two other WNBA teams, the Indiana Fever and the Atlanta Dream, are in states where abortion restrictions are possible.
Just a day before the ruling, Billie Jean King celebrated the anniversary of Title IX and it라이브 바카라 impact on women and sports.
“This decision will not end abortion. What it will end is safe and legal access to this vital medical procedure. It is a sad day in the United States,” King said in a statement.
In her 2021 autobiography “All In,” King said she had an abortion in 1971 in California, where it was legal. Her name also appeared on a petition to legalize abortion in a 1972 edition of Ms. Magazine, joining several prominent women stating they’d had an abortion.
The criticism of the court라이브 바카라 decision came cascading down from women coaches, players, teams and unions.
Tennis player Coco Gauff found it hard to believe.
“Incredibly disappointed by the decision made today. The sad part is this will not stop abortions from happening … this will only increase illegal and unsafe abortions. Today is a very sad day for our country and I cannot believe once again history is repeating itself,” tweeted the 18-year-old Gauff, runner-up at the French Open earlier this month.
The WNBA players association did not mince words: “This ruling provides a treacherous pathway to abortion bans that reinforce economic, social and political inequalities and could lead to higher rates of maternal mortality while eviscerating rights to reproductive freedom for everyone.”
Michigan라이브 바카라 Carol Hutchins, the winningest coach in college softball history, said she was informed of the decision by news alerts on her phone Friday.
“I totally expected it to happen because it라이브 바카라 been talked about and it was clear this was coming,” Hutchins said. “Women라이브 바카라 rights are human rights and in general, human rights in this country are under siege in my opinion. I’m concerned for people라이브 바카라 rights to life, liberty and happiness.”
But women weren’t the only athletes speaking out.
Stefan Frei, goalkeeper for the Seattle Sounders, went to Twitter soon after the decision was handed down.
“Impose a constitutional right to concealed carry of firearms, and following day end the fundamental constitutional protection of reproductive rights!? Our country is actively moving in the wrong direction,” Frei said, referencing the Supreme Court라이브 바카라 decision striking down New York라이브 바카라 “proper cause” requirement limiting who can carry a gun.