WNBA president issues statement on players in Istanbul

https://twitter.com/Pr3pE/status/815390323379617792

WNBA President Lisa Borders released the following statement regarding the safety of the WNBA players in Istanbul after a fatal mass shooting in the city early Saturday morning at a nightclub.

“The attack at Reina in Istanbul was tragic and we send our heartfelt condolences and prayers to the victims and their families,” said league president Lisa Borders. “The WNBA was in contact with our players in the region after the incident; we are thankful each one of them is safe and accounted for.”

Several WNBA athletes including Los Angeles Sparks players Essence Carson, Chelsea Gray and Jantel Lavender were next door to the incident that left at least 39 people dead including over a dozen foreigners. There is no clarity yet on who was responsible for the attack according to a Reuters report.

Over 20 WNBA players compete in Turkey during the league’s offseason. Last month, the league began offering players overseas a smartphone security app to help them stay safe. The app was developed in partnership with LiveSafe, a mobile safety communications platform.

Some background on the attack from the Washington Post:

The assault, which began with a spray of gunfire from a single assailant around 1 a.m., was the latest in a string of deadly attacks that have shaken Turkey as it faces threats both at home and from the civil war next door in Syria.

The shooting was the fourth major attack in the country in less than a month.