Thursday night at the Target Center was filled with grief, and many fans struggled to contain their raw emotions. Before the game against the Cavaliers, the Timberwolves held a moment of silence for Renee Nicole Good, a 37-year-old poet and mother who got killed by an ICE agent in Minneapolis on January 7.
The franchise expected it to become a solemn memorial, but emotion was running so high among the crowd. A fan could not stop him from breaking his silence against the ICE group, and now the NBA community is noticing.
Timberwolves Fans Hijack Moment of Silence With Thunderous Chant After ICE Killing
Good was idling in a parked vehicle when ICE agents approached her during an immigration enforcement operation. Federal authorities claim she tried to weaponize her car. Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey called that explanation complete BS.
She was a U.S. citizen, poet, and mother of three who lived in the Minneapolis–Saint Paul area with her partner and six-year-old child. She studied creative writing at Old Dominion University and won the Academy of American Poets Prize in 2020, according to reports.
pic.twitter.com/5ovwkBtcc3
Ice kills a women!!!😡😡😡😡😡😡😡😡😡😡😡😡😡😡😡😡😡😡😡😡😡😡— Sandra M Chavez (@SandraC88585384) January 7, 2026
The tragic shooting happened just three miles from Timberwolves’ home arena. Head Coach Chris Finch addressed the tragedy before kickoff, saying “our community has suffered yet another unspeakable tragedy” and offering heartfelt condolences to affected families.
The only irony? US citizens are not safe in their own country; the US security team. During the moment of silence, Arena lights dimmed to blue with the scoreboard displaying a black-and-white memorial image reading “IN MEMORY OF RENEE NICOLE GOOD”. Each and every person in the crowd was standing while the PA announcer was keeping his notes on the desk before a pin-drop silence.
But emotion was truly very high, so that silence didn’t last long. As the tribute moment ended, “Go home ICE” chant came out from one section of the crowd, followed by cheers. Video posted by The Athletic captured the absolute raw moment, which reflects the community’s anger over federal immigration actions.
The Minnesota Timberwolves held a moment of silence for Renee Nicole Good, the woman who was killed by an ICE agent in Minneapolis.
The crowd eventually cheered after a fan shouted “Go home ICE.”
(Warning: NSFW language)
🎥 @bringmethenews pic.twitter.com/CpTyuSDYp6
— The Athletic (@TheAthletic) January 9, 2026
However, tensions were already sky-high before the unfortunate shooting. Per reports, DHS had deployed 2,000 agents to the Minneapolis-Saint Paul area in what they called the largest immigration enforcement operation ever carried out.
Following the honor, Wolves did put on a show against the Cavs 131-122 behind Anthony Edwards. But Americans, or specifically Wolves fans, are talking about buckets. The moment of silence that wasn’t truly silent said more than the final score. Protests have already started, voices are growing louder, and this isn’t something the city allows to move past quietly.
