Dallas Wings forward Satou Sabally recently took to Instagram to share her excitement about meeting her “idol,” former San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick. The two crossed paths following Game 2 of the WNBA semifinals between the Las Vegas Aces and New York Liberty in New York.

In her post, Satou Sabally expressed admiration for Kaepernick’s courage in risking his career to stand up for his beliefs, which many believe led to his exclusion from the NFL.

In her caption, Sabally also encouraged her followers to vote in the upcoming US elections:

“I met my idol @kaepernick7 He took a stance and honestly, not many would do that knowing they’d risk their dream job. Power to the people and Black Lives Matter always. Also: Vote,” she said.

Kaepernick’s kneeling during the national anthem was a peaceful protest against police brutality that he started in 2016, sparking a cultural and political movement that reshaped sports activism and potentially cost him his NFL career.

Initially, his protest was aimed at bringing attention to racial injustice and police violence against African Americans, but it soon became a broader symbol of resistance.

Despite his success on the field, Kaepernick faced major consequences for his activism. After opting out of his NFL contract in 2017, no team has signed him since, and many believe his protest effectively ended his career.

Like Sabally, Kaepernick was in attendance for Game 2 of the WNBA semifinals series between the Las Vegas Aces and the New York Liberty.

Satou Sabally played just 15 games this season, as the Dallas Wings finished with a 9-31 record, the second-worst in the league.

Reflecting on the challenging season, she shared that losing taught her valuable life lessons.

“Losing will teach you more about yourself and where you want to be at in life. Your priorities, emotions, real friends and real support,” she said in an Instagram post.

Last season’s Most Improved Player, Satou Sabally averaged 17.9 points, 6.4 rebounds and a career-high 5.0 assists per game this season. She also set career highs in minutes per game (34.1) and 3-point percentage (45.2%).

Sabally hinted at her next steps, suggesting she’ll be competing in the Unrivaled Basketball League, a 3-on-3 women’s league founded by WNBA stars Breanna Stewart and Napheesa Collier, scheduled for January 2025.

“So goodbye for now, next year will be a movie, and before that, see you at Unrivaled Godspeed,” she said.

The Unrivaled league will also feature WNBA stars Angel Reese, DiJonai Carrington, Brittney Griner, Jewell Loyd, Arike Ogunbowale and several others.