The 2020 WNBA season, saw the league and its athletes demonstrate their commitment to social justice. While the league utilized its season to highlight the "Say Her Name" campaign and honor individuals like Breonna Taylor, the summer’s pivotal moment occurred in August following the police shooting of Jacob Blake in Kenosha, Wisconsin.

On Aug. 23, 2020, Blake, a Black man, was shot seven times by police as he attempted to enter his vehicle with his three children inside. Video of the incident was widely circulated on social media, leading to national demonstrations. On the following Wednesday, the WNBA had three games scheduled: the Atlanta Dream versus the Washington Mystics, the Los Angeles Sparks versus the Minnesota Lynx, and the Connecticut Sun versus the Phoenix Mercury.

Prior to tip-off, players from the Mystics, Dream, Sparks, and Lynx met for approximately one hour to discuss whether to proceed with the night's schedule. The Mystics arrived at the arena wearing T-shirts featuring seven simulated bullet holes on the back. Following these discussions, the players collectively decided to postpone the games.

Mystics guard Ariel Atkins told  ESPN that the decision was based on the players' desire to address issues beyond the basketball court. This move coincided with the Milwaukee Bucks' decision to sit out their NBA playoff game, which triggered similar postponements across Major League Baseball and Major League Soccer.

Elizabeth Williams, then a forward for the Dream, read a statement on behalf of the players' union expressing solidarity with other professional leagues. The statement noted that the players intended to keep the focus on the shooting of Blake and the ongoing demand for systemic change. Following the announcement, players from the four teams present at the arena gathered on the court and knelt together.

WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert supported the players’ choice, noting that the league was operating with a player-first agenda and that she was on-site to assist them in navigating their strategic goals. Mike Thibault, the head coach of the Mystics at the time, mentioned that while the initial intention for the day was to play, the players felt it was necessary to use their platform to address police violence and systemic racism.

The postponement remains a documented instance of professional athletes utilizing their collective labor to pause a season in response to national events. The 2020 WNBA season continued thereafter, with the league maintaining its focus on social justice initiatives through the conclusion of the playoffs.