WNBA fines 3 teams, players for shirts in wake of shootings

The WNBA has fined the Indiana Fever, New York Liberty and Phoenix Mercury and their players for wearing black warm up shirts in the wake of recent shootings by and against police officers.

While the shirts were the Adidas brand — the official outfitter of the league — WNBA rules state that uniforms may not be altered in any way.

WNBA President Lisa Borders said Wednesday night in statement to The Associated Press the fines were not about the players speaking out on a social issue.

Typical WNBA fines for technical fouls or such are about half the $500 amount the players were fined for wearing the black shirts.

"After seeing the African American male shot three times after helping an autistic person out this morning in Florida, I knew I couldn't be silent," Charles said after Liberty lost to the Fever.

Charles is looking forward to discussing future actions at the Olympics, where she'll have a chance to talk with her teammates on the women's national team and NBA players on the U.S. men's team.

The memo was sent out after Minnesota, New York and Dallas players wore shirts in remembrance of two men who were shot by police and the five Dallas police officers who were killed in an attack on July 7.