Products You May Like
Exclusive
TMZSports.com
Atlanta Dream star Renee Montgomery says she straight-up disagrees with her boss — claiming Sen. Kelly Loeffler is wrong for thinking fans will turn on the league overeats support of Black Lives Matter.
FYI, Senator Loeffler (R-GA) is a co-owner of the Dream — and made it clear she’s AGAINST the league’s social justice initiatives that support BLM claiming it will rub some WNBA fans the wrong way.
“I think a lot of people feel that they may not have a place,” Loeffler told ESPN … “They may feel excluded from this sport and other sports that make them feel like American values aren’t at the core of what we’re doing here.”
Loeffler was also critical of the Black Lives Matter organization — saying it’s much different from the BLM movement, which she strongly condemns.
“The Black Lives Matter political organization advocates things like defunding and abolishing the police, abolishing our military, emptying our prisons, destroying the nuclear family. It promotes violence and antisemitism. To me, this is not what our league stands for.”
Enter Montgomery … who played 2 seasons with the Dream — and responded to Loeffler’s comments on the “TMZ Sports” TV show.
Montgomery says it’s great that Loeffler is open to having a deeper 1-on-1 conversation about the issue … but for now, they remain on opposite sides of the fence.
Long story short, Montgomery says the WNBA is embracing the BLM movement — NOT the group — and she’s frustrated that certain people like Loeffler are trying to conflate them.
Montgomery — an 11-year WNBA vet and 2-time WNBA champion — also says she doesn’t believe fans will leave in droves because players are fighting for social justice.
“If its gonna bother a fan that much that a player wants to promote equality — that a player wants to promote the movement — then maybe [those fans] shouldn’t watch it.”
Montgomery adds, “[Loeffler is] saying they’re gonna lose fans but I think a lot of people will be welcoming to the idea of inclusion.”
Renee also wonders why Loeffler is digging in her heels so strongly to continue to be a part of a league with such different social values -.
“I don’t understand why you would want to be a part of something that has such different beliefs than you.”
Montgomery recently opted out of her 3rd year with the Dream to focus on social justice issues — but hasn’t retired and could rejoin the league next year.
When asked if the rift with Loeffler would dissuade her from rejoining the Atlanta Dream — Montgomery said it would not … explaining how the organization as a whole has been incredibly supportive.
“I have no problem with the Dream organization at all.”
Catch Renee — our new co-host on “TMZ Sports” — weeknights on FS1.