Four off-duty officers from the Minneapolis Police Department were working security for the WNBA Lynx game when they abandoned their posts after seeing the players’ pre-game shirts. The players were wearing black T-shirts with the names of two Black men who had been shot by police, including Philando Castile, who was killed during a traffic stop in Minnesota. The shirts also featured a Dallas police badge on the back to honor five officers killed in the line of duty, along with the words “Black Lives Matter.”

During the pre-game conference, the players explained that the shirts were created to honor and mourn those who had died while also advocating for change. Rebekkah Brunson shared her own childhood experience involving police officers with guns drawn, emphasizing that such incidents are not new. She stated that the team felt it was important to take a stand and raise their voices, pointing out that racial profiling and senseless violence remain serious issues.

According to the Minneapolis Police Federation, the four officers were offended by the message on the shirts and asked team officials to have the players remove them. When the team refused, the officers chose to walk off their posts. Federation president Lt. Bob Kroll criticized the protest, calling it “anti-police” and claiming that the players were promoting a false narrative about police misconduct. He also argued that professional athletes should focus on playing basketball rather than engaging in social issues.

Minneapolis Police Chief Janee’ Harteau responded by saying she understood the officers’ frustration but did not support their actions. She emphasized that officers, even when working off-duty in uniform, are expected to uphold their oath and fulfill their responsibilities. Meanwhile, Minneapolis Mayor Betsy Hodges strongly criticized Lt. Kroll’s remarks, stating publicly that he did not represent her views and rejecting his comments about the Lynx and the situation.