WNBA, 13 other pro sports leagues participate in ‘The Real Heroes Project’

INGLEWOOD, CALIFORNIA - JULY 15: Honoree Breanna Stewart speaks onstage during the 34th Annual Cedars-Sinai Sports Spectacular at The Compound on July 15, 2019 in Inglewood, California. (Photo by Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images for Cedars Sinai Sports Spectacular)
INGLEWOOD, CALIFORNIA - JULY 15: Honoree Breanna Stewart speaks onstage during the 34th Annual Cedars-Sinai Sports Spectacular at The Compound on July 15, 2019 in Inglewood, California. (Photo by Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images for Cedars Sinai Sports Spectacular)

Recognizing the frontline workers fighting COVID-19

In honor of National Nurses Day on Wednesday, May 6, the sports world is coming together to honor frontline healthcare workers — with a personal touch.

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Using the hashtag #TheRealHeroes, athletes from 14 professional sports leagues, including the WNBA, NBA, NWSL, WTA and more, selected a healthcare worker to honor. In a PSA, the athletes thank their heroes with a personal message and altered their own jerseys and uniforms to show the healthcare workers’ names instead of their own.

The Seattle Storm’s Breanna Stewart and the Phoenix Mercury’s Skylar Diggins-Smith are representing the WNBA in the ad campaign.

“Just like you cheer for me, and you cheer for us, I want to cheer for you,” Diggins-Smith says to her hero, Nichole Freeman, in the PSA.

Both took to Instagram this week to share their selections:

Donovan Mitchell (Utah Jazz, NBA), Carli Lloyd (Sky Blue FC, NWSL) and Naomi Osaka (WTA) are among the initiative’s other participants.

You can watch the PSA here.

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