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By Khaleda Rahman
National Correspondent
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President Donald Trump has called for a boycott of the WNBA over players skipping the pregame national anthem, and accused LeBron James of disrespecting the country for moving during the anthem at a game this week.
The Atlanta Dream and Golden State Valkyries have left the court before The Star-Spangled Banner plays in every game of the WNBA Finals so far, prompting a backlash from conservative critics.
Trump, who is actively campaigning for Republican candidates ahead of crucial midterms, has called for people to boycott the WNBA during a rally in Iowa on Thursday, while referencing the NFL athletes who protested police brutality by kneeling silently during the national anthem before games a decade ago—which he had also criticized at the time.
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"It's a big deal going on. They leave the court when the national anthem's playing. What's that all about?" Trump said. "The NFL did that for a while and they stopped because people stopped watching the games. So I think you should do the same thing with women's basketball."
Other critics included Vice President JD Vance who, in an interview with Arroyo Grande host Raymond Arroyo, called the WNBA players’ conduct "disgraceful," saying they "have a lot to be grateful to the United States for, and I think that if they had a bit more of a spirit of gratitude, they'd be happier people, and they wouldn't offend so many people as well."
The Valkyries say that going into the locker room for the anthem has been part of their pregame routine since joining the league last year, while the Atlanta Dream have left the court before the anthem for the past several years.
Newsweek has contacted the White House, the WNBA, the Dream and the Valkyries for comment via email.
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Trump Slams LeBron James
Earlier on Thursday, Trump branded James a "TOTAL DISGRACE" for not staying still while a performer sang the national anthem ahead of a game on Tuesday.
James, who plays for the Philadelphia 76ers and has criticized the president in the past, appeared to be practicing his golf swing and basketball shots as the anthem was sung ahead of the season opener against the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden.
"While listening to our National Anthem, LeBron James disrespects our Country! I said right from the beginning that he's no good, a TOTAL DISGRACE," Trump wrote on Truth Social.
"LeBron James should apologize to all of those Great American Warriors and Heroes who died for the American Flag, and all that our Country stands for!"
James later brushed off the criticism, telling reporters that "it must be a slow news day at the office."
Trump has previously criticized athletes for their behavior during the national anthem.
During his first term, Trump repeatedly targeted NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick for kneeling during the anthem to protest racial injustice and police brutality. In 2017, Trump took credit when Kaepernick did not find a team to play for after he opted out of his contract with the San Francisco 49ers.
What the WNBA Rulebook Says
It has been common for many WNBA teams over at least the past six seasons to leave the court with 10 minutes left in pregame warmups right before the anthem is played. Teams have left to raise awareness for social justice issues or to continue to get ready for the game.
The WNBA rulebook states what should happen during the anthem, but the protocols were suspended years ago.
“Players, coaches, and trainers are to stand and line up in a dignified posture along the sidelines or on the foul line during the playing of the National Anthem,” according to the rulebook. It’s not clear if the rule refers to just players who are on the court or entire teams.
The league suspended its protocols late in the 2017 season, saying in a memo to teams that players and coaches didn’t have to follow them. The memo was sent to allow players to show support for victims in the wake of a white nationalist rally in Charlottesville, Virginia, that occurred that summer.
In 2020, teams left the court before the anthem as the WNBA dedicated that season to Breonna Taylor, who was killed in her Louisville, Kentucky, home. Since then, many teams still leave the court before the anthem is played.
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