# WNBA’s bizarre national anthem controversy shows just how much the league needs Caitlin Clark

- URL: https://talkfuse.com/story/wnbas-bizarre-national-anthem-controversy-shows-just-how-much-the-league-needs-caitlin-clark/
- Published: 2026-10-27T20:11:12+00:00
- Updated: 2026-10-27T21:40:15+00:00
- Original publisher: Fox News (publisher lean: Far right)
- Original article: https://www.foxnews.com/outkick-sports/wnba-bizarre-national-anthem-controversy-shows-how-much-league-needs-caitlin-clark
- Topics: Basketball, Entertainment, Offbeat, Sport, TV, Weird & Viral, World

## Key points

- The article links limited attention to the anthem routine with Clark’s absence.
- The Dream and Valkyries reportedly leave during the anthem.
- Finals Game 6 was scheduled for a Thursday afternoon.

## Summary

The article argues that the WNBA has received little attention for a national anthem routine involving the Atlanta Dream and Golden State Valkyries, and says Caitlin Clark’s absence helps explain why. It contends that Clark’s popularity has brought new viewers to the league and that similar conduct by her team would attract far more scrutiny.

The teams reportedly leave the court before the anthem and return after it, but have not publicly explained the practice. The article says the issue drew notice during the WNBA Finals, while Game 6 was scheduled for 12:30 p.m. Eastern on a Thursday after a venue change from a 3,500-seat arena to one holding 17,000; the Atlanta Hawks were also due to play that day. The piece presents these details as evidence of the league’s limited reach without Clark, an opinion rather than an established explanation.

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Summarised by TalkFuse (https://talkfuse.com/). Quote the original publisher for the reporting and link this page for the summary and discussion.