In the wake of the recent violence in Minneapolis, several former UConn basketball stars are using their platforms to speak out - not just as athletes, but as advocates for justice, compassion, and community.
Breanna Stewart, a four-time NCAA champion and one of the most vocal leaders in women’s basketball, made a powerful statement ahead of her Unrivaled game in Miami on Sunday. Holding a sign that read “Abolish ICE,” Stewart’s message came just a day after 37-year-old protester Alex Pretti was shot and killed during demonstrations in Minneapolis - the second such fatality involving federal forces in the city this month.
“We’re so fueled by hate right now instead of love,” Stewart told reporters after the game. Her words weren’t just about a single incident - they reflected a broader concern about the direction of national immigration policies and the human toll they’re taking.
“I wanted to have a simple message of ‘Abolish ICE,’ which means having policies to uplift families and communities instead of fueling fear and violence,” she said. “When human lives are at stake, it’s bigger than everything else.”
Stewart, who is married to Brazilian soccer legend Marta and is navigating the U.S. immigration system alongside her, added a personal dimension to the conversation. “She is a legal permanent resident and all of that.
But it seems like it doesn’t matter,” Stewart said. “That’s why these policies need to be put in place, that reform needs to happen - because it doesn’t seem to be affecting the right people.
It’s not helping anybody.”
Later, Stewart took to Instagram to extend her message, posting a photo of herself holding the sign and writing:
“As a mother, nothing scares me more than seeing families torn apart, children traumatized, and parents living in fear of losing their loved ones.
Our communities deserve better. They deserve safety, dignity, and compassion.
Not trauma and division. Saying Abolish ICE is about advocating for policies that uplift families and strengthen communities, instead of fueling fear and violence.”
She’s not alone in speaking out.
Ray Allen, the UConn men’s basketball legend and Hall of Famer, also weighed in with a powerful post of his own on Instagram. Allen didn’t hold back, calling this a “reflection point” in American history - a moment that demands clarity, courage, and action.
“This country was built on violence - and for Black people, that violence has never been theoretical,” Allen wrote. “For centuries, we have been terrorized, killed, raped, exploited, and systematically disenfranchised, then told that if something bad happened to us, we must have been the agitator - never for once thinking an injustice took place.”
Allen’s message was both historical and urgent. “Silence is not neutrality,” he continued.
“If you stay quiet while others are vilified, targeted, or killed, do not be surprised when your own rights are questioned. Justice is not selective.
Freedom is not conditional. And history does not forgive indifference.
This is the moment to speak - before there’s no one left to do it for you.”
Then there’s Liam McNeeley, a rising rookie with the Charlotte Hornets and another product of UConn’s storied program. His message was simpler, but no less poignant.
On X (formerly Twitter), McNeeley shared a verse from Proverbs 31:8:
“Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute.”
In a moment where sports and society continue to intersect in meaningful - and often uncomfortable - ways, these athletes are choosing to use their platforms for more than just highlights and stat lines. They’re speaking out, standing up, and reminding us that behind every jersey is a human being with convictions, experiences, and a voice that matters.
And right now, those voices are calling for change.