A'ja Wilson, Sloane Stephens, and Tziarra King joined forces to amplify the voices of Black female athletes on Instagram's biggest stage

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A'ja Wilson, Sloane Stephens, and Tziarra King joined forces to amplify the voices of Black female athletes on Instagram's biggest stage
A'ja Wilson, Sloane Stephens, and Tziarra King took over the official @Instagram account as part of Instagram's #SeeMe campaign.AP Photo/John Locher/Danielle Parhizkaran-USA TODAY Sports/Jeffrey Swinger-USA TODAY
  • A'ja Wilson, Sloane Stephens, and Tziarra King took over the official @Instagram account as part of Instagram's #SeeMe campaign.
  • The WNBA, WTA, and NWSL stars, respectively, shared photos and stories to the 368+ million followers of the account to express what it means to be Black women competing in the highest level of sport.
  • "I was really excited," King told Insider while reflecting on her experience with the #SeeMe campaign. "It was really great that they did something like this on a large scale."
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A'ja Wilson, Sloane Stephens, and Tziarra King are three of the most impressive professional athletes on the planet. They are MVPs, Grand Slam champions, rising stars, and big personalities.

But before they are anything else, they are Black women.

The WNBA, WTA, and NWSL trio joined together to share stories and experiences relating to their race via a three-part editorial series on Instagram called #SeeMe.

A'ja Wilson, Sloane Stephens, and Tziarra King joined forces to amplify the voices of Black female athletes on Instagram's biggest stage
A'ja Wilson blocks a shot during a WNBA game with the Las Vegas Aces.AP Photo/Chris O'Meara

"For our team at Instagram sports, we're consistently looking for ways to amplify voices within the world of sports and specifically within women's sports," Instagram Head of Sports Dev Sethi told Insider. "We discussed months ago having a series that would amplify the voices of the three athletes — A'ja Wilson, Sloane Stephens, and Tziarra King — to talk about their experiences not only as female athletes but Black female athletes in the US."

On each of the final three days of September, Wilson, Stephens, and King took over the official Instagram account — the largest account on the platform with more than 368 million followers — to make posts featuring their own portraits and ideas of what it means to be Black women competing in the highest level of their respective sports. And in doing so, all three stars also managed to promote their leagues.

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"One of the really great aspects of this program is that in partnership with the WNBA, NWSL, and WTA, not only were we having content featured on @Instagram, but they had content that they had dedicated to publish on their own channels," Sethi said. "Each league highlighted these athletes' personal stories, and we were able to showcase that content as well."

A'ja Wilson — the Las Vegas Aces superstar and 2020 WNBA MVP — was first up

The two-time WNBA All-Star and 2018 Rookie of the Year — who dominated the league this season with 20.5 points, 8.5 rebounds, 2 assists, and 2 steals per game — wore gold hoops, a blue and orange quarter-zip pullover, and her hair half pulled back in braids for the photo.

Wilson devoted her caption to explain why she sees playing basketball as just one piece of her job.

“I’m a Black woman before anything else. I’m still part of my community, which is hurting right now. I can’t just workout, practice and try to be the best in my sport. I have to use my platform and represent my community. I have to speak out as a woman and as a Black woman.”⁣ ⁣ For A’ja Wilson (@aja22wilson), the recently crowned MVP of the @wnba, work doesn’t begin and end on the court. The 24-year-old @lvaces player and social justice advocate is committed to fighting for equality for future generations.⁣ ⁣ “I love it because young Black girls can turn on the TV and watch me do what I love and be inspired to be me, or to be better than me. It means a lot to me that I have the opportunity to be a professional athlete at all. I don’t take that for granted. Off the court I’m still doing what I love for a cause that’s bigger than me, in fighting for the continued visibility of women who are victims of police brutality and for justice on their behalf. I fight for the next generation of Black girls, so that their opportunities are limitless, and they are valued as they should be.”⁣ ⁣ Head to @wnba today as they share more perspectives and voices from Black athletes and advocates in their league.⁣ ⁣ #ShareBlackStories #SeeMe

A post shared by Instagram (@instagram) on Sep 28, 2020 at 9:05am PDT

"I'm a Black woman before anything else. I'm still part of my community, which is hurting right now," Wilson wrote. "I can't just workout, practice, and try to be the best in my sport. I have to use my platform and represent my community. I have to speak out as a woman and as a Black woman."⁣

At just 24 years old, Wilson is one of the WNBA's Social Justice Council leaders. She was key in implementing several initiatives the league and its players took on during their time in Bradenton, Florida, this summer.

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Players wore Breonna Taylor's name on the back of their jerseys throughout the season, spoke with former Georgia gubernatorial candidate Stacey Abrams and Taylor's mother, Tamika Palmer, and demanded justice for the late Louisville EMT. They also honored Sandra Bland and raised awareness for other Black female victims of police brutality through a partnership with the "Say Her Name" campaign.

A'ja Wilson, Sloane Stephens, and Tziarra King joined forces to amplify the voices of Black female athletes on Instagram's biggest stage
WNBA players take a moment of silence for Breonna Taylor.AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack

"Off the court, I'm still doing what I love for a cause that's bigger than me, in fighting for the continued visibility of women who are victims of police brutality and for justice on their behalf," Wilson wrote. "I fight for the next generation of Black girls, so that their opportunities are limitless, and they are valued as they should be."⁣

But even when she's playing basketball, Wilson sees herself as a champion for the next generation of Black women, leading by example each time she steps on the court.

"I love it because young Black girls can turn on the TV and watch me do what I love and be inspired to be me, or to be better than me," she said. "It means a lot to me that I have the opportunity to be a professional athlete at all. I don't take that for granted."

The WNBA followed up Wilson's efforts on the Instagram account with a video devoted to her commitment to social justice.

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A'ja Wilson will be heard. #SeeMe #MakeWayMakeChange "Don't be silenced. Always know that you have a voice." - @aja22wilson

A post shared by WNBA (@wnba) on Sep 28, 2020 at 9:13am PDT

2017 US Open champion Sloane Stephens had her turn with the Instagram handle the following day

A 27-year-old from Plantation, Florida, Stephens surged to prominence in professional women's tennis after upsetting Serena Williams at the 2013 Australian Open. Since then, she's won six WTA singles titles, including a Grand Slam championship after taking down fellow American Madison Keys in the 2017 US Open final.

But like Wilson, Stephens is focused on being "more than just an athlete."

"To be a Black professional athlete in America is a great opportunity to be seen and heard as a Black woman," Stephens wrote on Instagram. "I feel it's our responsibility to use it wisely."

A'ja Wilson, Sloane Stephens, and Tziarra King joined forces to amplify the voices of Black female athletes on Instagram's biggest stage
Sloane Stephens serves at the 2020 US Open.Danielle Parhizkaran-USA TODAY Sports

Stephens' September 29 post on the official Instagram handle featured a photo of her in a light blue shirt with her hair pulled back in braids and a tight-lipped smile on her face. In the caption, she opened up about the impact America's recent reckoning with race relations has had on her.

"Everything that has happened this year has been really emotional," Stephens wrote. "George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery, and all of the other unjust murders broke my heart, but they also encouraged me to use my voice and my platform to get involved."

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"It's been inspiring to see all different kinds of people have hard conversations about issues that have been prevalent for far too long, to educate themselves and others, and to take action," she added. "We still have a lot more to do, but it's progress."

Professional tennis player Sloane Stephens (@sloanestephens) is much more than an athlete at the top of her sport.⁣ ⁣ She’s a daughter. A sister. A friend. A businesswoman. An activist.⁣ ⁣ “To be a Black professional athlete in America is a great opportunity to be seen and heard as a Black woman. I feel it’s our responsibility to use it wisely,” she says. “People see us on TV and sometimes forget we’re more than just an athlete,” she says.⁣ ⁣ “Everything that has happened this year has been really emotional. George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery and all of the other unjust murders broke my heart, but they also encouraged me to use my voice and my platform to get involved. It’s been inspiring to see all different kinds of people have hard conversations about issues that have been prevalent for far too long, to educate themselves and others and to take action. We still have a lot more to do, but it’s progress,” says Sloane.⁣ ⁣ Beyond advocating for social justice, Sloane started the @sloanestephensfoundation to help kids dream big and succeed, on and off the court. “Tennis is very often considered a rich, white sport, so there are a lot of kids out there who don’t feel like it’s for them. I hope that those kids see me, or Serena [Williams], or Frances [Tiafoe] or Naomi [Osaka], and they’re encouraged to pick up a racket and follow their heart.”⁣ ⁣ Check out the @wta today as they share more perspectives and stories from Black athletes and advocates in their league.⁣ ⁣ #ShareBlackStories #SeeMe

A post shared by Instagram (@instagram) on Sep 29, 2020 at 9:10am PDT

But speaking out against police brutality isn't the only way Stephens uses her platform to further the causes she believes in. Her charity — the Sloane Stephens Foundation — works to make tennis accessible to a wider array of young people through both on and off-court initiatives.

"Tennis is very often considered a rich, white sport, so there are a lot of kids out there who don't feel like it's for them," Stephens wrote." I hope that those kids see me, or Serena [Williams], or Frances [Tiafoe], or Naomi [Osaka] and they're encouraged to pick up a racket and follow their heart."⁣

The WTA later published a video highlighting Stephens' commitment to using her voice for good.

NWSL upstart Tziarra King rounded out the initiative on the final day of the month

King has wasted no time making herself a known entity in the professional soccer world. The Utah Royals selected her with the eighth overall pick in the 2020 NWSL College Draft, and as soon as she had the opportunity, the 22-year-old striker immediately made her presence known on the pitch. Just 20 minutes after subbing into an NWSL Challenge Cup game for her league debut, King scored an impressive equalizing goal that has put her name on the map as a lethal offensive weapon ever since.

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Her boldness transcends the field. King has unabashedly spoken out against social injustice — even when it's challenging and uncomfortable. When leadership in her own club was accused of racist and sexist conduct, King was quick and explicit in her condemnation of their behavior despite the clear risk of repercussions.

She told Insider that her fearlessness both on the field and off has come from years of training at home.

"The confidence came from growing up — I was the youngest and the only girl," King said. "I had to advocate for myself, and if I didn't like something, you were going to hear about it. Honestly, that carried over into how I've always kind of carried myself: very much vocal about the things that I care about and the things that I believe in."

A'ja Wilson, Sloane Stephens, and Tziarra King joined forces to amplify the voices of Black female athletes on Instagram's biggest stage
Tziarra King (right) dribbles past a goalkeeper during an NWSL Challenge Cup game.Jeffrey Swinger-USA TODAY Sports

So when the NWSL asked King to craft a post as part of Instagram's #SeeMore campaign, she was ecstatic.

"When they shared that the other two women being highlighted were A'ja Wilson and Sloane Stephens, I was like, 'Whoa, big names,'" she said. "So I was really excited ... It was really great that they did something like this on a large scale."

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King wore a black turtleneck under overalls in the photo, which was broadcast to a followership of more than 300 million people on September 30. In her caption, she stressed that she doesn't "speak on behalf of the entire population of Black female athletes" because "we all have unique stories." Still, she insisted that "the more voices that are heard, the better."⁣

"I just hope that people listen to the stories of all Black women and don't generalize," she wrote.

“When I speak, I don’t speak on behalf of the entire population of Black female athletes. We might share similar experiences, but we all have unique stories. I just hope that people listen to the stories of all Black women and don’t generalize. The more voices that are heard, the better.”⁣ ⁣ Professional soccer player Tziarra King (@tziarraking) plays for @utahroyalsfc and is making her voice heard loud and clear in her @nwsl rookie season.⁣ ⁣ “For me, being a Black woman in soccer means being in spaces where most people don’t look like you or relate to your experiences. But it also means breaking down barriers and inspiring a younger generation of Black girls to chase their dreams. I fight for little girls who look like me, think like me and will experience similar things that I have. I fight to let them know that they belong in whatever space they desire to be in.⁣ ⁣ It can be exhausting, especially right now, trying to get people to understand your perspective. Regardless, I wouldn’t change who I am for anything in this world. I love being a Black woman.” ⁣ ⁣ Head to @nwsl today as they share more perspectives and voices from Black athletes and advocates in their league.⁣ ⁣ #ShareBlackStories #SeeMe⁣ ⁣ Photo of @tziarraking by @bukunmigrace

A post shared by Instagram (@instagram) on Sep 30, 2020 at 9:35am PDT

Historically, higher-level soccer in the United States has not been a particularly diverse or accessible sport. As such, King recognizes the outsized importance of her position as a role model for Black girls who aspire to play professional soccer themselves someday.

"For me, being a Black woman in soccer means being in spaces where most people don't look like you or relate to your experiences," King wrote on Instagram. "But it also means breaking down barriers and inspiring a younger generation of Black girls to chase their dreams. I fight for little girls who look like me, think like me, and experience similar things. I fight to let them know that they belong in whatever space they desire to be in.⁣"

But King acknowledged in the post that it could be a lonely, "exhausting" task. It's part of the reason she and other NWSL players have joined together to create the Black Women's Player Collective, which was created to be "a space where [Black NWSL players] feel comfortable and we feel supported."

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"Like I was saying in the Instagram post, there are women in this league who are on teams where they're the only Black woman," King told Insider. "That can be stressful when you're trying to convey a message, or you're trying to voice an opinion."

"I think that the players' collective is so important because you have women across the league backing you," she added.

After King's post on the official Instagram page went live, the NWSL highlighted her efforts with its own video tribute:

"All in all, everyone felt like this was a great success," Sethi told Insider. "To be frank, we are hopeful that we'll not only be able to continue this series across the sports vertical but also amplify unique, rich, and complex Black female voices in other verticals as well."

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