NBA Faces Backlash as WNBA Teams Skip Finals Anthems, League Stays Silent

WHO:

Pro Football Network - Jemele Hill and Cari Champion criticized the WNBA’s treatment of journalists.

Fox News - Vice President JD Vance criticized WNBA players who skipped the national anthem.

Fox News - Riley Gaines called for players who skip the Finals anthem to lose Olympic eligibility for Team USA.

Fox News - The Atlanta Dream and Golden State Valkyries are the WNBA teams identified as absent from the national anthem before the Finals games.

Pro Football Network - ESPN personality Linda Cohn criticized the WNBA’s protocols and called for clarification of its anthem policy.

WHAT:

Pro Football Network - Hill and Champion alleged the WNBA pressured journalists over negative coverage and called for change.

Fox News - The Atlanta Dream and Golden State Valkyries skipped the national anthem for a third consecutive WNBA Finals game.

Fox News - Vance called the players’ anthem walkouts “disgraceful.”

Fox News - Riley Gaines said Atlanta Dream and Golden State Valkyries players who skip the anthem should be barred from Team USA’s Olympic roster.

Fox News - The Dream and Valkyries were absent during the national anthem before Games 1 and 2 of the WNBA Finals.

Fox News - The NBA did not answer OutKick’s questions about the teams’ anthem absences.

Pro Football Network - Cohn called for the WNBA to clarify its anthem policy after the Dream and Valkyries left the court during the anthem in the Finals.

Pro Football Network - The article headline quotes criticism including “What a Shame” and “Explain It Clearly.”

WHY:

Fox News - Vance said players should show more gratitude.

Fox News - The questions to the NBA concerned the Dream and Valkyries’ absences during the national anthem.

Pro Football Network - Cohn’s request for clarification followed the teams’ departure from the court during the anthem.

HOW:

Fox News - The report says the NBA rulebook requires players to stand in line, while the teams’ anthem absences prompted questions to the league.

Pro Football Network - The Dream and Valkyries left the court during the national anthem.

The Atlanta Dream and Golden State Valkyries were absent from the national anthem before a third consecutive WNBA Finals game, after leaving the court during the performance. Vice President JD Vance called the players’ walkouts “disgraceful” and said they should show more gratitude. Riley Gaines called for players who skip the anthem to be barred from Team USA’s Olympic roster. The absences have also prompted criticism of the league’s handling of the issue. ESPN personality Linda Cohn called on the WNBA to clarify its anthem policy, while Jemele Hill and Cari Champion alleged the league had pressured journalists over negative coverage and urged change. The NBA rulebook requires players to stand in line during the anthem, and the NBA did not respond to questions about the teams’ absences.