Corrections and Clarifications: An earlier version of this story misidentified the OL Kingdom.
A day after the 50th anniversary of Title IX – past legislation to create and strengthen equal opportunities in sport for women – the Supreme Court ruled Friday that Americans no longer have the constitutional right to abortion.
Tennis legend Billie Jean King, an icon in the sports gender equity movement and women’s rights activist, called it “a sad day in the United States.”
“The Supreme Court defeated Roe v. Wade, who for nearly 50 years protected the right to abortion,” King said. “This decision does not end abortion. What does end is safe and legal access to this vital medical procedure. It is a sad day in the United States.”
Olympian Ashleigh Johnson was in Budapest, Hungary, celebrating the 23-3 victory of the U.S. women’s handball team over Argentina at the FINA Aquatics World Championships when players heard the news of the decision. the Supreme Court.
“We came out of our game excited to have won, but then just completely deflated to think about the implications of Roe v. Wade that it doesn’t exist,” Johnson, a two-time Olympic gold medalist, told USA TODAY Sports during a telephone interview.
“Speaking as a woman, it feels like a big step backwards for an equal representation of women in society at large. But speaking as an athlete, it comes from the back of the 50th anniversary of the Title IX, so obviously Title IX and benefits for women would not be possible without Roe v. Wade.
U.S. women’s soccer captain Megan Rapinoe, always open about social issues, said abortion is not a policy, it’s a human rights issue.
“It’s hard to put into words how sad one day this is for me personally, for my teammates, just for all the people this is going to affect,” he said.
His teammate Lindsey Horan said: “I don’t like to talk about this very often, but wake up and feel that the news wasn’t good to say. I feel like this is a step backwards for our country.”
WNBA Players’ Association: Get out and vote
The WNBA Players Association also posted a strong response to the news: See the article : Politics in Two: January 6, Supreme Court and Gun Legislation.
“This decision shows a branch of government that is so out of touch with the country and any sense of human dignity. That is why we say that voting rights are very important and must be protected. We must recognize that when we making a vote is to elect officials and to connect the points to the policies and legislation that align with our values. ”
The union was also critical of the Supreme Court ruling Thursday that made it easier for gun owners to publicly carry weapons in states such as New York, New Jersey and California.
“Are we in a democracy where guns have more rights than women?” the union asked in its statement.
“This ruling provides a treacherous path to the abortion ban that reinforces economic, social and political inequalities and could lead to higher rates of maternal mortality while evading the rights to reproductive freedom for all.
“To protect our democracy, we must vote as our lives depend on it. Because they do.”
NBA commissioner Adam Silver and WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert issued a joint statement saying the leagues believe “women should be able to make their own decisions regarding their health and future, and we believe that freedom should be protected.” .
The Las Vegas Axes have worn shirts in practice today that say “Our bodies, our futures, our abortions” and “Prohibit our bodies” in protest of the Supreme Court ruling that Roe v. Wade on Friday.
(via @LVAces) pic.twitter.com/Rpkrqx4Rh6
NWSL teams vow to fight for equality
Teams in the National Women’s Soccer League have also talked about it on social media. Racing Louisville FC has noted that the average Kentucky resident will be required to drive 245 miles for an abortion. To see also : Abbott, the Governor’s Commission for Women announces the Women-Owned Business Series. “This development leaves us primarily concerned about marginalized members of our community and future Supreme Court decisions that may impact them.”
OL Reign said: “We are at the heart of this decision … by announcing the basic human right to the autonomy of the body, our most vulnerable communities are most impacted. This is directly contrary to our values in OL. Reign and we are committed to fighting for equality. ”
NWSL’s Orlando Pride and Major League Soccer’s Orlando City SC also issued a joint statement, saying, “Access to safe reproductive care and autonomy over the body are basic human rights, non-negotiable, and our club is deeply opposed to today’s Supreme Court decision. ”
“The Supreme Court decision today denies individuals in this country the full freedom and equality that are the cornerstone of a just society,” NWSL Commissioner Jessica Berman said in a statement. “Reproductive rights are human rights. As long as every individual has the same freedom as their neighbor, our work is not done. We will continue to make our voice heard. The NWSL is more than just a league of football; we are a team that stays. every day for what is right. “
The NWSL Players Association said it “strongly condemns today’s decision to cancel Roe vs Wade – a decision that effectively undermines a person’s right to make decisions about their own body, a basic human right to the heart of every aspect of life. The pro-life decision will result in the death of an unspeakable number of women, especially in marginalized communities. “
Male athletes have also criticized the decision, including three from the world of car racing.
IndyCar driver Dalton Kellett, who comes from Canada, tweeted that he is pro-choice and “the hypocrisy of the situation, like a man” disturbed him.
“If the roles were reversed, it wouldn’t even be for discussion,” Kellett wrote on Twitter. “We should never give up control of our bodies. Women should not give up control of their bodies.”
They are pro-choice for several reasons. One that I keep coming back to is the hypocrisy of this situation, as a man.
If the roles were reversed, it wouldn’t even be for discussion. We never give up control of our bodies.
Women should not give up control of their own. https://t.co/EMhx2vl93c
Another IndyCar driver, JR Hildebrand, also criticized today’s decision, tweeting:
“My wife is a women’s health nurse. There are many reasons to end a pregnancy. And in a country without guaranteed access to contraception, health care, paid leave, or parental support, it’s absolutely ridiculous * even * to end it. an impossible or unsafe pregnancy “.
And seven-time Formula 1 world champion Lewis Hamilton, who from Britain, weighed in on his Instagram story:
“I am disgusted by the decision taken by the Supreme Court in the United States today. I do not understand why some in power have pushed and continue to push to strip the rights of millions of people. This decision has an impact on the most vulnerable among us.Women, people of color, members of the LGBTQIA + community and so on.
NBA goalkeeper Josh Hart apologized to the women, saying “To the women in this country. & Amp; mldr; I’m sorry.” Minnesota Timberwolves big man Karl-Anthony Towns quote-tweeted former President Barack Obama’s statement, writing “Sad Day.”
ESPN analyst Ryan Clark, a former NFL defender, wrote, “To all the women who are injured today I see you. I’m so sorry the country has moved backwards today. I pray with you all!”
To all the women who are hurting today I see you. I am so sorry that the country has moved backwards today. Praying with you all!
A defensive lineman for the Pittsburgh Steelers, Cam Heyward, commented the country was “going backwards.”
“It’s a shame we’re going backwards,” he wrote on Twitter. “To rule out a woman’s choice and think the progress that’s been made is BS. It’s a tough decision, but it’s her decision. Leave it at that.”
Potential consequences for female college athletes
Johnson, the Olympic football goalkeeper who played college at Princeton, was one of 500 female athletes who signed a brief friendship last September urging the Supreme Court to reject the Mississippi law at the center of the Court’s decision. Read also : Which women’s sport benefited most from Title IX?. Friday’s Supreme.
Johnson is concerned about female college athletes attending schools in states where the Supreme Court decision leads to illegal abortion. In part, he is concerned after reading that less than 10 percent of colleges have the infrastructure to support university athletes growing up with children.
“It’s crazy,” Johnson said. “With this decision, if the university athletes who decide to keep their child do not have the choice to be able to hold or not this child, they have to choose between being a student-athlete parent and being a parent. It is sacrificial. your education, is sacrificing your athletic career.It is creating this dilemma where you choose between getting an education and unlocking all these different opportunities for the rest of your life.
OPINION: Athletes may think twice about where they go to school if Roe v. Wade is canceled
Johnson also reflected on a personal message and what he shares with girls who play sports.
“I talk about how sport gives you so much power over your body,” he said. “It gives you so much freedom. And like kids growing up with body problems, there’s a challenging relationship with your body, but the only thing you know is guaranteed is that your body is yours … and through sports you learn that it is something really powerful.
“To have our government take that piece of us away, it’s just a big step backwards, you hear. ”
Contribution: Christine Brennan, Lindsay Schnell, Josh Peter
Who is the best tennis player of all time?
The 10 greatest male tennis players of all time
- Jimmy Connors. …
- Ivan Lendl. …
- Bjorn Borg. …
- Pete Sampras. …
- Rod Laver. From Evers, Joost / Anefo via Wikimedia Commons.
- Roger Federer. Mike McCune, CC BY-2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
- Rafael Nadal. By Brett Marlow via Wikimedia Commons.
- Novak Djokovic. By Yann Caradec via Wikimedia Commons.
Who is the greatest tennis player of all time? Roger Federer There was a time when Roger Federer was miles ahead of the competition. We had no doubt in our minds that we were watching the greatest tennis player of all time. At tennisbros.com we like Roger Federer, and he has held the top spot on this list for quite some time.
Who is better Nadal or Federer?
Roger Federer has won 82.1% of the matches he has played in his career (1242 wins to 271 losses). Rafael Nadal has won 83.2% of the matches he has played in his career (990 wins to 200 losses). On hard pitches, Federer won 83.3% of his matches, Nadal 78.8%. On clay, Federer won 76.1% of his matches, Nadal 91.8%, the king of clay!
Who is the No 1 player in tennis?
Novak Djokovic has the record of 16,950 ranking points, the most ATP points ever accumulated by any player in a single season.
Who is considered the goat of tennis?
1. Novak Djokovic. At the age of 35 and in the early years of his career, Djokovic certainly has the potential to win more Grand Slam titles. With 20 Grand Slam titles already under his belt, he follows only Rafael Nadal who is 22 years old.
What did Bobby Riggs do for a living?
Bobby Riggs, named Robert Larimore Riggs, (born February 25, 1918, Los Angeles, California, U.S. – died October 25, 1995, Leucadia, California), American tennis player who was one of the best players in the United States. in the 1930s and 40s, but who was best known for the 1973 “Battle of the Sexes,” a match in …
What did Bobby Riggs do? After making derogatory remarks regarding women’s tennis, Riggs, a self-proclaimed “masculine pig,” challenged a number of top players to one match. Margaret Court accepted his offer. The match was held on May 13, 1973, and proved an easy victory – 6 – 1, 6 – 2 – for the 55-year-old Riggs.
Was Bobby Riggs married?
What happened to Bobby Righs?
In 1988, Riggs was diagnosed with prostate cancer, which he battled for seven years, until the disease took his own life in 1995. His last public tennis match before his death occurred in the United States. 1993, when he participated in an AIDS charity rally. against Elton John and Martina Navratilova.
Who won the battle of the sexes Billie Jean King?
48 years ago today: Billie Jean King defeated Bobby Riggs in the battle of the sexes. Forty-eight years ago, on September 20, 1973, tennis champion Billie Jean King (29 years old at the time) defeated self-proclaimed masculine Bobby “No-Broad-Can-Beat-Me” Riggs in “Battle.” Tennis match Of The Sexes.
Who won the battle of the sexes in 1973? On September 20, 1973, in a highly publicized “Battle of the Sexes” tennis match, women’s top player Billie Jean King, 29, defeated Bobby Riggs, 55, a former men’s player. ° 1.
Who defeated Billie Jean King?
| Set | 1 | 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Billie Jean King | 6 | 6 |
| Bobby Riggs | 4 | 3 |
How does battle of the sexes end?
After a slow start, King won the game by changing the future of women’s tennis. The film ends with a written epilogue that King eventually divorced her husband and had a long same-sex relationship while Riggs reunited with his wife.
