Many are already aware of the growing tension in Minneapolis, where increased ICE activity has left families fearful to leave their homes or go to work. The situation has only intensified after two people, ICU nurse Alex Pretti and Renée Good, were killed by federal agents within a month. For Paige Bueckers, who grew up just 10 miles southwest of downtown Minneapolis, these events have hit especially close to home.

As she continues to play her trade in Unrivaled, Minnesota native Paige Bueckers, who grew up in Hopkins, has delivered a powerful message about the situation in Minneapolis.

“Innocent lives are being taken; innocent families are being broken apart,” Bueckers said. “People are afraid to send their children to school, people are afraid to go to work and provide for their family, people are afraid to go to the grocery store. What’s going on is not OK, and at some point — we feel like, and we hope and we pray, that there’s a change in direction in where this is heading.”

She continued, “I’m very proud to be from Minnesota, and to see the community come together and show strength and unity and try to do everything possible to stay together through this really tough time. That’s kind of what Minnesota is all about. So it’s tough, just being from there and not being able to go there and help and [have] feet on land, but you try to do everything from afar to support.”

There have been widespread protests against ICE activity in Minneapolis, and Paige Bueckers has admitted she would have taken part if she were not currently competing in Unrivaled in Miami. Still, she found another way to show up for her community, donating the $50,000 prize money she earned for leading the league in free-throw percentage through the first five games.

But she was not the only athlete to speak up. Several others have raised their voices as well.

Breanna Stewart, Rachel Banham Join Paige Bueckers to Condemn ICE Attacks

The WNBA continues to prove why activism has always been part of its identity. Alongside Paige Bueckers, several other stars, including Breanna Stewart, Napheesa Collier, and Rachel Banham, have publicly spoken out.

During player introductions at Unrivaled earlier this week, co-founder and two-time WNBA MVP Breanna Stewart held up an “Abolish ICE” sign, one day after the ICU nurse was killed by federal agents in Minneapolis. For Stewart, the issue hits especially close to home, as her wife, Marta Xargay Casademont, is a Spanish citizen who is still in the process of obtaining U.S. citizenship.

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Rachel Banham, another Minnesota native playing in Unrivaled, also spoke out, following Paige’s example. “There’s a lot of things that need to, on a deeper level, be fixed, right?” Banham said. “I think the biggest thing that we can control — I mean, obviously, use your voice, continue to pray, continue to be there for people who need it. Lend a helping hand if you can, because a lot of us have that privilege to be able to do that.”

Lynx stars Napheesa Collier and Natisha Hiedeman have also spoken out against recent federal immigration actions, and a moment of silence was held before tipoff of Saturday’s Unrivaled games. The public address announcer said it was done “to take a moment to reflect on the recent tragic events in Minnesota.”