WNBA’s bizarre national anthem controversy shows just how much the league needs Caitlin Clark
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.
In short
- 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.
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The case for
The routine may be a team-level choice that does not warrant national attention, particularly while the teams have offered no explanation for it. The article’s broader point is that Clark’s popularity has brought new viewers and scrutiny to the WNBA, so her absence can make comparable stories less visible and highlight the league’s reliance on a few major draws.
The case against
The scheduling, venue change and limited attention do not establish that the league needs Clark; they may reflect practical decisions or wider patterns in sports coverage. The teams’ unexplained anthem routine is a separate issue, and treating the attention it receives as a measure of the WNBA’s reach risks overstating what these details can show.
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