WASHINGTON -- A group consisting of Megan Rapinoe, a soccer star, and Sue Bird (a basketball player), urged Monday's U.S. Supreme Court for protection of abortion rights in a case that involves the Republican-backed attempt to ban the procedure in Mississippi after 15 weeks.
The court has a 6-3 conservative majority and abortion opponents asked it to reverse the 1973 Roe v. Wade ruling. This landmark decision recognized a woman's rights to terminate a pregnancy and made abortion legal in all 50 states after it was banned in some states.
Over 500 athletes and groups submitted a friend of the court brief to the justices. This included 26 Olympians and 73 professional athletes, as well as various associations representing athletes. They claimed that abortion rights have facilitated the growth of women’s sports, and expressed concern about what future athletes might do without them.
The brief stated that athletes would not be able to terminate a pregnant without the right to do so without the brief.
Rapinoe, who is a two-time World Cup winner as well as an Olympic gold medalist, stated in a statement that she believes women should have the ability to make decisions about their bodies and exercise control over their reproductive lives. She called legislation restricting abortion rights "infuriating" and "un-American".
Rapinoe has spoken out on a variety of political issues. Both stars of the WNBA, Bird and Taurasi helped the U.S. women’s basketball team win gold at the Tokyo Olympics. Taurasi is the WNBA’s all-time top scorer. Rapinoe is Bird's wife.
Ashleigh Johnson, who was also a signatory of the agreement, was the first Black woman to be on the U.S. Olympic Water Polo Team and also a Tokyo Olympic gold medalist.
Monday's oral arguments were set by the Supreme Court in the case of Dec. 1. The Supreme Court is expected to issue a ruling by June 30th.
Lynn Fitch, a Mississippi attorney general and a Republican supported by abortion opponents, stated in July papers that Roe v. Wade and a subsequent 1992 ruling that affirmed it were both "egregiously incorrect" and should be overturned.
The Mississippi court filing was the first time that a Republican-governed state made Roe v. Wade central to its argument, when it sought to revive a law that had been blocked by lower courts.
