She exemplifies leadership both in her athletic pursuits and in her personal life.

According to Blavity, Renee Montgomery has made history by being the first ex-WNBA player to assume the positions of both owner and executive within a WNBA franchise.

Having entered the league more than ten years ago, the 34-year-old player has made significant contributions to women’s basketball. She was a national champion in 2009 while playing for the University of Connecticut women’s basketball team and went on to win two WNBA titles with the Minnesota Lynx in 2015 and 2017. Recently, Montgomery chose to opt out of the 2020 season to dedicate more time to her social justice efforts, shortly after announcing her retirement from the league.

In the context of the pandemic, social upheaval prompted a racial awakening in numerous industries, with the WNBA being no exception. The Atlanta Dream’s owners, Kelly Loeffler and Mary Brock, found themselves at the heart of a contentious debate after Loeffler, a former U.S. senator, publicly supported former President Donald Trump. Following this, she authored an open letter to WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert, criticizing the Black Lives Matter movement and the league’s backing of it.

In a demonstration of political engagement, WNBA players showcased their support for Senator Raphael G. Warnock by wearing “VOTE WARNOCK” shirts during his campaign against Kelly Loeffler in the Georgia Senate race. Warnock’s successful election made him the first Black senator to represent Georgia, a historic achievement. Following this landmark victory, NBA player LeBron James expressed interest on Twitter in potentially purchasing the Atlanta Dream, to which Montgomery replied, “I’m ready when you are.”