The WNBA and WNBA Players Association (WNBPA) will be awarded the Stuart Scott ENSPIRE Award for 2020 at this year's ESPY's. The news broke early Monday morning, prior to the leagues official announcement of a 2020 season.
The WNBA and it's players have been highly vocal in their fight for equality and improved quality of life, not just for themselves but all. The league has worked together to stand up, defend and speak out on behalf of injustice in marginalized communities and across the globe.
The advocacy of the league and its players includes promoting equality and opportunity in sport through social justice efforts.
The @WNBA and @TheWNBPA are the recipients of The Stuart Scott ENSPIRE Award, presented by Bristol Meyers Squibb. pic.twitter.com/ucO1i8JnzI
— ESPYS (@ESPYS) June 15, 2020
One of the major reasons was due to the new collective bargaining agreement which was signed and put into place in January. The new CBA was groundbreaking for the league and increased salaries for all players, improved travel, childcare and motherhood support to go along with family-planning benefits. Changes in free agency allow for more player control and it also included revenue-sharing changes.
The new CBA is an eight-year agreement which will run through the 2027 season.
The Stuart Scott ENSPIRE Award is included in this year's ESPY's Sports Humanitarian Award. It celebrates people that have taken risk and used an innovating approach to helping the disadvantaged through the power of sports. Former recipients have included Tyler Trent, Lina Khalifeh, David Robinson, the Global Sports Mentoring Program, Stephanie McMahon and Orlando City Soccer Club.
The ESPY's will be aired on ESPN on June 21 at 9:00 pm ET.
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