The WNBA‘s Atlanta Dream and Golden State Valkyries once again took a pass on the national anthem before Game 5 of the Finals on Monday in San Francisco.
Both teams took part in warmups before exiting the court at the Chase Center, only to reappear after Dinah Jane completed her rendition of The Star-Spangled Banner. The Valkyries would go on to win, 64-55, to take a 3-2 series edge.
The WNBA suspended its mandatory anthem protocols in 2017 and currently allows teams to decide if they’re going to be standing on the court while the song is played before games. For instance, the Minnesota Lynx and Indiana Fever do include the anthem as part of their pre-game routines, while the current finalists have opted against doing so.
Neither the Dream nor the Valkyries have claimed to be engaged in a political demonstration.
President Donald Trump commented on the situation at a political rally in Iowa last week.
The WNBA’s Atlanta Dream and Golden State Valkyries took park in warmups before exiting the court at the Chase Center, only to reappear after Dinah Jane completed her performance
Angel Reese #5 of the Atlanta Dream looks to shoot the ball between Kayla Thornton #5 and Cecilia Zandalasini #24 of the Golden State Valkyries during the first quarter on Monday
President Donald Trump commented on situation at a political rally in Iowa last week
‘By the way, what’s going on with the Women’s NBA? What’s that all about?’ Trump asked.
Trump then linked Dream and Valkyries players to former San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick, who famously refused to stand for the anthem throughout the 2016 NFL season in protest of racist police brutality.
‘No, it’s a big deal going on,’ Trump said. ‘They leave the court when the national anthems play. What’s that all about?
‘You know, the NFL did that for a while and they stopped because people stopped watching the games. So I think you should do the same thing with women’s basketball.’
Although its Nielsen ratings did decline somewhat, the NFL maintained the highest viewership of any American sports league before, during and after Kaepernick’s 2016 demonstrations.
Actress Zendaya watches during the first half of Game 5 of the WNBA Finals in San Francisco
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Should athletes use pre-game moments like the anthem to express their beliefs or stick to sports?
Trump is not the first Republican politician to weigh in on the WNBA anthem situation during the ongoing finals.
‘I think it’s disgraceful,’ Vice President JD Vance told author Raymond Arroyo. ‘I think that you should not express some criticism of a public policy of a given politician by disrespecting the country writ large.
‘I mean, those women who play for the WNBA, think of the public safety, think of the incredible wealth and privilege, the amazing jobs that they have.
‘They have a lot to be grateful to the United States for, and I think that if they had a bit more of a spirit of gratitude, they’d be happier people, and they wouldn’t offend so many people as well.’
The Vice President added: ‘Whether you were born in the United States or whether you came here by choice, this is your country. And I think that we’re all meant to love it.
‘We’re all meant to try to make it the best version of itself. But fundamentally, I think, without love of country, I think that you’re going to be a disordered human being.’
