After the pandemic broke in March, the NWSL was the first U.S. team-sport to return to play. Amidst the joy and excitement of returning to the pitch, the North Carolina Courage and Portland Thorns kicked off The Challenge Cup tournament by taking knees during the national anthem, in solidarity with Black Lives Matter.

Next up, the WNBA. The players dedicated their entire season to Breonna Taylor. Their league will not let you forget her name, nor the names of many other Black women victims of police violence. The “Say Her Name” campaign resurrects the cases of Sandra Bland, Vanessa Guillen, Korryn Gaines, Natasha McKenna… I recommend researching the WNBA’s newfound “Social Justice Council” when you get the chance. This league is not waiting around for change. They are demanding it.

This brings me to women’s hockey. The whitest sport of the three mentioned, which creates a different kind of work for us. With so few women of colour in hockey, we can’t afford to burn out the few that we have. We need to share the emotional and educational load and promote a culture of anti-racism. Saroya Tinker shared her story about her mental health battles as a collegiate athlete and Black woman in hockey. She opened my eyes to what I always thought was a safe space. Erica L. Ayala’s new YouTube series, “Social Justice in Women’s Hockey” pushes the thinking further. Allie Thunstrom (NWHL), in conversation with Blake Bolden (PWHPA), reflected that “Not being racist isn’t enough, silence is being complicit.” These are conversations we’ve never had before.