MINNEAPOLIS/ST. PAUL – Minnesota Lynx guard Layshia Clarendon has been named a finalist for the Muhammad Ali Sports Humanitarian Award, ESPN announced today.

The Sports Humanitarian Award is presented to an athlete who has made a continuous, positive impact on their community through sports and leadership. The candidate must also embrace the core principles that Muhammad Ali embodied, including confidence, conviction, dedication, giving and respect. The winner will be able to donate a $100,000 grant from ESPN to a qualified charity of their choice and all finalists will be able to donate $25,000 to a charity related to their award-winning efforts.

Clarendon, the first openly transgender and nonbinary athlete to compete in the WNBA, was nominated due to their dedication to advocate for LGBTQIA2+ athletes at all levels of play and her role in the WNBA’s social justice efforts. As the Vice President of the WNBAPA and founding member of WNBA’s Social Justice Council, Clarendon has engaged in community conversations, advocacy and education on important topics surrounding social justice and discrimination against sexual orientation or gender identity in sports.

Clarendon also partnered with grassroots organizations to create strategic messaging to build awareness around Breonna Taylor’s death, police brutality and social injustices. He also worked diligently with other WNBA players to uplift the Say Her Name campaign, which fights for visibility and justice for Black women lost to police violence and police brutality.

Additional finalists for the award include Chicago Cubs first baseman Anthony Rizzo, Kansas City Chiefs offensive lineman Laurent Duvernay-Tardif and WWE global ambassador Titus O’Neil.

Clarendon joins guard Crystal Dangerfield as the second Lynx player to be nominated for 2021 ESPYS honors. Dangerfield is one of four finalists for the Best Breakthrough Athlete.

The winner will be announced during the 2021 ESPYS on Saturday, July 10. All finalists will also be featured during the Sports Humanitarian Awards, which will take place on Monday, July 12 in New York City.