Atlanta Dream guard Renee Montgomery has confirmed that she will sit out of the 2020 WNBA season.
The 33-year-old said her heart is “elsewhere” as he aims to take up the fight against social injustice.
There have been mass protests against police brutality and racial injustice in the US and across the world.
This follows the death of George Floyd, who died after a Police officer kneeled on his neck for close to 10 minutes.
While the WNBA season is set to start on 24 July, Montgomery said she has opted out of the season to focus on social justice reform.
"This year is bigger than basketball. My heart was not in it this year because my heart is elsewhere," she told the BBC.
"I was most concerned about leaving my team-mates out to dry almost, but everybody said 'do your thing, I get it'.
"I told them all I'll be cheering for them but I'm going to have to sit this one out."
The WNBA star said she hopes to “create some kind of positive change” by tackling claims of voter suppression in Atlanta.
"I'm going to create some kind of positive change," Montgomery stated.
"To give up that comfort zone of basketball is scary. But I felt strongly enough that I knew, whatever happens, this is the right decision for me."
