WNBA’s Anthem Controversy Is A Leadership Crisis, And NBA Has A Problem On Its Hands

This article was written by Matt Foley and published on Sport & State, a new media company founded by Clay Travis that is built around sports, culture, original voices, and live conversation.

* * * * *

For three straight games in the WNBA Finals, the Atlanta Dream and Golden State Valkyries have left the court moments before the national anthem, returning almost immediately after its conclusion.

Evidently, two minutes of respect and unity is too much for this league.

According to OutKick’s Dan Zaksheske, both teams continued the anthem routine Wednesday night before Game 3 in Atlanta, despite the WNBA’s official rulebook specifically requiring players, coaches, and trainers to stand “in a dignified posture” during the anthem.

Both @WNBA teams refuse to be on the court for the national anthem at the WNBA Finals per @RealDanZak. This is three straight games now. This violates league rules and the league refuses to comment on why it is happening. https://t.co/2LkoDyBEwk

— Clay Travis (@ClayTravis) October 22, 2026

Sport & State contacted both the WNBA and NBA offices seeking clarity, including whether NBA Commissioner Adam Silver is concerned about the WNBA’s ongoing trend of political bias, but neither office had responded as of publication.

The WNBA’s apparent soft protest is the league’s latest self-inflicted public relations nightmare, raising serious questions about leadership, accountability, and communication throughout the league.

And it looks like the players aren’t the only WNBA employees blowing off the anthem.

Zaksheske reported that two individuals seated in an area designated for WNBA public relations personnel stayed seated during Wednesday’s anthem.

Once again, the Atlanta Dream and Golden State Valkyries players hustle off the court prior to the playing of the national anthem.

Three WNBA Finals games. Zero anthem appearances. https://t.co/cUQDK2cGgs

— Dan Zaksheske (@RealDanZak) October 22, 2026

When asked, neither individual explained why they stayed seated. Their identities and official roles have not been independently confirmed.

But the optics are awful. The people tasked with communicating on behalf of the WNBA are now part of a controversy itself. And the league refuses to explain.

Silence is the story

No one has established that the Dream and Valkyries are officially participating in a political protest. But when both teams repeatedly leave the floor before the anthem, it’s reasonable to interpret their actions as intentional and coordinated.

Which is why the WNBA — and by extension, its parent company, the NBA — needs to communicate. And answer media inquiries about these topics.

Instead of acknowledging their players’ position and clarifying the league’s stance, the WNBA seems content to say nothing and … then what? Hope the season ends as soon as possible?

Classic avoidance behavior is not a successful PR strategy.

Creating a political headache for itself

The anthem controversy is just the latest in a string of politically charged headlines for the WNBA.

As Sport & State reported Tuesday, the WNBA recently informed congressional Republicans that former NBA players Enes Kanter Freedom and Royce White were ineligible for the WNBA Draft because they are men, without directly answering lawmakers’ broader questions about how the league defines eligibility for women’s basketball.

The eligibility debate and anthem controversy are separate issues, but both illustrate a clear pattern: When politically sensitive questions arise, the WNBA struggles to articulate a clear, consistent position.

Athletes have their own political beliefs, and the WNBA has every right to establish its own policies. But the league appears willing to let unresolved, politically charged issues to dominate the conversation around women’s basketball.

All @wnba has to do to end the gender controversy is say only those born women are eligible to play in the league. Why won’t they say it? Because they have had at least one trans player. Are there others? A legal deep dive @SportNState: https://t.co/snCpxHxhvp

— Clay Travis (@ClayTravis) August 27, 2026

Either that, or they are totally incapable of controlling their own narrative.

Othering a large faction of the country based on politics is a major problem as the league tries to grow its business and become less dependent on NBA subsidization.

The NBA remains a key stakeholder in the women’s league, meaning its leadership, including Silver, has a vested interest in the WNBA’s reputation and commercial success. Whether the NBA agrees or disagrees with the WNBA’s current handling of these controversies, its silence leaves fans guessing.

The next commissioner has a mess to clean up

WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert is out after the 2026 season, and the WNBA has an opportunity to reset its relationship with the public.

That starts with finding a commissioner willing to communicate decisions and take responsibility for those decisions.

Despite the league’s track record, not every controversy needs to become a political referendum. And not every criticism of the WNBA is evidence of a coordinated right-wing campaign against women’s basketball.

This league creates its own problems, and this anthem controversy is just the latest example.

More from this network:
Domains for Sale · GOTPeople.org · TheDSAPlatform · The Truth About Socialism

Donate to GOTPeople.org