Kristin Bernert, the WNBA’s vice president for team business development, talked about her struggles as a lesbian in professional sports. (Photo by Matt Hennie)
WNBA comes out in Atlanta Team unveils name as gay league executive talks openly
Atlanta Rainbow Trout, Swimming and Water Polo Practice, Georgia Tech Aquatic Center. www.atlantarainbowtrout.com
Atlanta Team Tennis Association, Friday Night Drills, Glenlake Tennis Center. www.atta.org
Come Out Dancing, Lessons and Social Dance, Several Dancers Core Studio. www.comeoutdancing.com
Hotlanta Volleyball League, Recreational Open Play, Agnes Scott College. www.hotlantavolleyball.org
Friends Friday Bowling League, Midtown Bowl. www.friendsfriday.org
Atlanta Bucks Rugby Football Club, Practice, Grayson Field in East Point. www.atlantabucksrugby.org
Atlanta Rainbow Trout, Practice, Tech Aquatic Center.
Hotlanta Volleyball League, Intermediate and Advanced Open Play, Agnes Scott College.
Atlas Atlanta Bowling League, Midtown Bowl. www.igbo.org/leagues/League_Detail.cfm?LID=78
WEDNESDAY, FEB. 6
Decatur Women’s League Bowling, Suburban Lanes in Decatur. 404-210-4722, annebarr30345@gmail.com
Front Runners Atlanta, Piedmont Park.
Hotlanta Soccer League, Winter Season Play, Silverbacks Park. www.hotlantasoccer.com
THURSDAY, FEB. 7
Atlanta Bucks Rugby Football Club, Practice, Grayson Field in East Point.
Decatur Women’s Basketball, Decatur High School Gym. 404-210-4722, annebarr30345@gmail.com
IF YOU HAVEN’T heard, there’s a new WNBA team in town.
Maybe you’ve missed, pardon the pun, the full court press the team has waged since the start of the New Year, including the announcement of its new name, logo and colors during a public pep rally on Jan. 23. Next Wednesday, Feb. 6, the team will conduct an expansion draft where it can pluck players from the league’s 13 other teams and begin to fill its roster.
The momentum builds from there as the Atlanta Dream closes in on the start of training camp on April 20 and its first regular season game on May 17.
“One name stood out,” team owner Ron Terwilliger said in unveiling the Dream name and logo last week. “The one we have chosen embodies the core values of our team, the WNBA and our city. This is the right city at the right time.”
WNBA PRESIDENT DONNA Orender, who joined Terwilliger and City Council President Lisa Borders, invoked the legacy of Martin Luther King, Jr., during the rally, which was held two days after the federal King holiday. She argued that the league, like King, champions social justice and equality.
“The history of this city has been filled with the same sort of socially progressive ideas the WNBA represents,” Orender said. “Atlanta has long been at the epicenter of championing equal rights and equal opportunity and the WNBA is also about equal rights and equal opportunity.”
Kristin Bernert, the WNBA’s vice president for team business development, carried through on that theme when she spoke later in the day to the gay Atlanta Executive Network. Bernert, a lesbian, said the speech marked the first time she’s spoken publicly about being gay.
“I know the WNBA has a lesbian stigma,” Bernert said to laughter from the audience. “That’s great, but I’m like, who cares? The truth is the league couldn’t care less if I was gay or straight. They really don’t care.”
BERNERT’S RESUME includes stints in collegiate athletics, Major League Baseball and with the WNBA’s Detroit Shock. She said she didn’t come out in the workplace until taking a position with the WNBA’s league office in 2005.
“I was tired. I was just tired of taking my partner to events and calling her a friend,” said Bernert, who added the she and her partner are planning a commitment ceremony for this summer in Maine.
Bernert’s appearance, though, continued the team’s outreach to gay and lesbian fans in Atlanta. Since the league awarded its 14th team to the city in October, sales people hawking season tickets have appeared at several gay events.
Team boosters also reached out to gay fans last year as they launched the effort to land the new team in Atlanta. Terwilliger has since discussed the importance of attracting gay fans to help fill Philips Arena when the team opens its home schedule on May 23.
“I hope you are ready to see some world class basketball in Atlanta,” Bernert said.
The Atlanta Bucks Rugby Football Club dropped its season opener on Jan. 26, losing 52-3 to the High Country Rugby Football Club. The Bucks, beset with injuries, played with just two substitutes. The team will regroup for its next match, which is a road game on Feb. 9 against the Huntsville Rugby Club. (Photo by Matt Hennie)
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