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Chicago Sky and Moonshot: A New Era of Safety in Women's Sports

In a groundbreaking announcement, the WNBA's Chicago Sky has unveiled a unique partnership with Moonshot, a leader in online safety and security solutions. This collaboration aims to protect players from the escalating threats of online abuse, especially targeted towards women in sports. As the first team in the league to employ such advanced technology, the Chicago Sky sets a new standard for addressing online hate and harassment in sports.

Making Safety a Priority

Nadia Rawlinson, Co-owner and Operating Chairman of the Chicago Sky, emphasized the urgent need to combat hate and harassment in sports. She stated, "Hate and harassment have no place in sports. Our partnership with Moonshot is about proactively tackling online hate, harassment, and abuse across social media and on the dark web. This enables our players and coaches to focus on what they do best – playing basketball and engaging with fans globally."

The partnership with Moonshot aims not only to understand the nature of online threats but also to actively mitigate them. By utilizing cutting-edge technology typically reserved for national security and defense, Moonshot’s specialists will work diligently to identify harmful content and assess risks. They will also aid in interpreting the underlying motivations behind online abuse, which has become alarmingly prevalent in recent years.

Addressing a Growing Crisis

The need for such measures is underscored by the increasing instances of online harassment, particularly against female athletes and those from marginalized communities. Data indicates that women in public life experience online abuse at disproportionately high rates; 92% have reported encountering such negativity, with 31% of it being sexual in nature.

This trend has coincided with the rise of women's sports and related cultural phenomena, highlighting the urgent need for protective measures. The Chicago Sky's proactive approach showcases a commitment to safeguarding player mental health and wellbeing, a pivotal aspect of the organization’s ethos.

The Role of Technology in Combatting Abuse

Moonshot’s expertise in surveillance and security forms a critical part of this initiative. As Vidhya Ramalingam, CEO of Moonshot, noted,