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The WNBA has expanded its multi-year partnership with Opill – the first and only over-the-counter birth control pill available without a prescription in the U.S. In order to expand reproductive health education on birth control options and increase access to birth control resources, the duo is rolling out an educational university tour and the next phase of their collaboration.
Getting birth control shouldn’t be hard, but 1 in 3 American women encounter barriers when trying to get a prescription. Additionally, the National Institute of Health (NIH) reports that maternal mortality disproportionately affects women of color, with Black women and American Indian and Alaska Native women, respectively, being 3.3 and 2.5 times more likely to die from pregnancy-related causes as compared to white women.
Opill and the WNBA are therefore introducing the new, Level The Court initiative in partnership with the Black Women’s Health Imperative (BWHI). Level The Court will empower Black women and girls by providing reproductive health education to support them in making informed decisions about their sexual health and foster health equity.
It is targeting communities with limited access to reproductive healthcare and has a goal to break down barriers faced by underserved populations. It will also launch a dedicated online resource hub on WNBA.com, featuring educational content, personal stories and information on obtaining Opill at low or no cost.
“For decades, Black women have faced significant barriers to accessing safe and effective reproductive health services. Through this partnership, we aim to establish the BWHI Opill Access Fund, which will provide a three-month supply of Opill to Black women facing temporary financial challenges,” shared Zsanai Epps, Senior Director of Reproductive Health Initiatives at BWHI.
As part of the collaboration, the WNBA will host four events at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) throughout the spring. These events will bring together WNBA players and fans to discuss reproductive health and advocate for greater equity in healthcare. In addition, comedian and Giggly Squad host Hannah Berner has joined the Opill team to help raise awareness about the benefits of over-the-counter birth control. She will meet with students and talk about birth control and share why it is important to her.
Beginning in Florida, the multi-state tour will stop at 15 colleges and universities, including the University of South Carolina for the WNBA on Campus Presented by Opill® event on February 25. The tour will also focus on college campuses in states with especially restrictive reproductive health laws, such as Texas, Tennessee, Indiana and Arkansas. Nearly six million students in these states are currently pursuing degrees, and Opill is committed to providing them with access to safe and effective birth control options.
“I think it’s really important for people who can get pregnant and women to be informed about their reproductive health and their contraceptive options. I have a daughter, and I want her to know that SHE HAS OPTIONS that she deserves,” stated the Minnesota Lynx’s Napheesa Collier.
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