The Atlanta Dream and Golden State Valkyries have drawn plenty of criticism from conservative corners of the internet after both teams left the court before the national anthem during the first two games of the WNBA Finals. Now, one of the WNBA’s most vocal critics has weighed in.
Anti-trans activist and former Kentucky swimmer Riley Gaines suggested that players who kneel for the anthem should be barred from playing for Team USA at the Olympics. It’s a very aggressive argument from Gaines, but there’s just one problem: nobody actually knelt during the national anthem.
Teams Leave Court for Anthem
Before Game 1 of the WNBA Finals on Saturday, both teams were warming up at Chase Center before they left the court shortly before the anthem. They then jogged back onto the floor just seconds after it ended.
The same thing happened again before Game 2 on Monday night, according to Fox News.
Neither the teams nor the league has explained why the players left the court. OutKick has pointed to the WNBA’s rulebook, which calls for players, coaches, and trainers to stand in a line during the anthem. But that rule only appears to apply if the players are on the court, and it doesn’t seem to require them to be there in the first place.
It’s also not clear whether the moment was intentional. Leaving the floor at a set time before tipoff isn’t uncommon in basketball, and LSU head coach Kim Mulkey gave a similar explanation in 2024 when her team, which included current Dream star Angel Reese, was off the court for the anthem before an Elite Eight game against Iowa.
‘You shouldn’t be able to represent the USA’
Gaines shared her take on X on Tuesday while quote-posting a clip of the teams leaving the court before Game 2.
“It’s my personal opinion that if you kneel for the flag and what it represents, you shouldn’t be able to represent the USA at the Olympics,” Gaines wrote.
The post went viral, racking up tens of thousands of likes. But it’s worth noting that Gaines’ criticism wasn’t necessarily based on reality, as the players did not actually kneel during the national anthem, they just weren’t on the floor at all.
Gaines has become one of the WNBA’s most prominent critics in recent months, particularly when it comes to transgender athletes in women’s sports.
Ever since tying transgender swimmer Lia Thomas for fifth at the 2022 NCAA Championships, Gaines has built a platform speaking out against transgender women competing in women’s sports. She now hosts The Riley Gaines Show for OutKick, which was rebranded from Gaines for Girls in January to cover broader political commentary. This month, she has also been touring college campuses with Turning Point USA.
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