Abortion: Women athletes are taking a stand

The context: Earlier this year, (mostly) a bunch of uninformed old white men passed the Texas Heartbeat Act, which restricts people in Texas from getting an abortion after six weeks gestation.

• The act encourages enforcement through civil lawsuits, meaning it’s up to citizens to report anyone who has had or who has helped someone receive an “illegal” abortion.

• And now, Mississippi anti-abortionists are asking the Supreme Court to overturn the landmark 1973 Roe v. Wade ruling, which held that it’s a woman’s constitutional right to choose to have an abortion.

The latest: Yesterday, over 500 pro, collegiate and high school athletes — including Megan Rapinoe, Sue Bird and Layshia Clarendon — as well as the NWSL and WNBA players’ associations filed an amicus brief at the Supreme Court, arguing against the abortion ban.

• In the brief, the athletes argue that Roe v. Wade has had an incalculable effect on the growth of women’s sports and the empowerment of female athletes and includes statements from players telling their abortion experiences.

The brief is 73 powerful pages long, and if you’re looking for a little more than just the gist, we highly recommend giving it a read here.