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It’s been said, repeatedly, that sports and politics shouldn’t mix. But don’t tell that to the Chicago Sky’s Elizabeth Williams. Since arriving in the league from Duke in 2016, she has solidified her place both in the frontcourt and on the frontlines.
Williams has played for the Connecticut Sun, Atlanta Dream and Washington Mystics before coming to the Sky in 2023. On the court, she has garnered some notable achievements. In 2016, Williams was named the WNBA’s Most Improved Player. The following year, she made her first All-Star appearance. In 2020, she was selected to the WNBA All-Defense First Team, and made the All-Defense Second Team in 2023. She is known for being a consistent presence in the paint and on the boards. Williams also has taken on the role of mentor to younger teammates.
Off the court, Williams has used that same consistency for the greater good. During the 2020 COVID-restricted season in the Wubble, she was one of the most vocal players addressing issues around racism, police brutality and voting rights. Williams also helped lead the charge to elect then-candidate Rev. Raphael Warnock to the US Senate from Georgia, replacing then-Senator and former Atlanta Dream owner Kelly Loeffler after she criticized the Black Lives Matter movement.
From there, Williams’ advocacy has grown. She is currently Secretary of the WNBPA. She has been in the middle of the ongoing collective bargaining agreement (CBA) negotiations between the players and the league. The players are demanding a greater share of the revenue, higher salaries, increased family benefits and improved working conditions. The CBA agreement from 2020 expires at the end of this year, and some players have indicated a willingness to strike if they don’t get what they want.
As for Williams, she has only added to her resume in advocacy by obtaining a master’s degree in Global Health from Arizona State University in 2024. She is also looking towards possibly attending medical school to help actively address health care disparities. Her inspiration for wanting to be socially responsible stems from growing up in England as the child of Nigerian immigrants.
“It’s just me,” she said to Swish Appeal. “I’m a kid of immigrants and working hard and doing things for others is kind of in my blood. I think having that mindset that, ‘This game is bigger than me.’ is kind of ingrained.”
Her future, much like the future of the league, is up in the air, but holds so much promise. She understands fully that making a name off the court is just as pertinent as doing so on the court. “For me, being able to expand myself off the court as well, to be a leader, to be educated, to communicate in a way that I know I put the work in so people will listen,” Williams said.
Williams has received honors for her work, including the 2023 Kim Perrot Sportsmanship Award, given to the player in the WNBA who embodies the essence of sportsmanship.
Suffice it to say that when there’s a problem, count on Elizabeth Williams to be there, ready to find a solution.
