The Atlanta Dream’s national TV game against Caitlin Clark and the Indiana Fever sparked a lot of attention before the opening tip. However, despite the game featuring several standout moments from Clark and Angel Reese, the one at the center of the controversy had nothing to do with basketball.
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Pictures and reports from fans at State Farm Arena show the Dream not present on the floor during the national anthem, instead choosing to remain in the locker room during the sequence, while the Fever stayed on the court. It quickly triggered backlash from various critics, including user Pamela Hansley, who took to X to condemn the move.
“The WNBA Atlanta Dream players stayed in the locker room during the National Anthem again. The Indiana Fever stood proudly. There should be massive fines for this behavior. This is yet another reason why nobody gives a d*** about the WNBA.”
Outkick reporter Jon Root did not hold back either, as he took to X to comment on the Dream’s absence as well.
“The Atlanta Dream refused to be on the court for the National Anthem once again prior to their match-up vs Indiana Fever… Happy to see the Fever respect America”
Reactions like Hansley’s and Root’s are turning the pregame moment into yet another debate surrounding the WNBA, but as longtime fans of the league may know, this is nothing new. In fact, this has historically been used as a form of solidarity for several years. The Atlanta Dream and Angel Reese’s decision was instead seen as a sign of disrespect before they fell 95-91 to the Fever.
The Dream has often skipped out on on-court appearances when ‘The Star-Spangled Banner’ is played before games. Since 2020, it’s become a common practice for some teams to not take the floor during the national anthem. For instance, the New York Liberty, Connecticut Sun, and Golden State Valkyries rarely stay on the floor during the anthem, choosing to stay in the locker rooms or in the tunnels before heading out after the anthem. It is possible that the teams use this time for last-minute strategizing. Meanwhile, the Indiana Fever stays on the floor for nearly every performance of the anthem.
The calls for massive fines against Angel Reese and Co. are unlikely to happen. History shows that apart from being a form of protest, the practice allows teammates with different views to remain united without needing to make the same gesture publicly.
Regardless, the game between the Fever and the Dream has reopened a debate at a time when nearly everything around the league is put under a massive spotlight.