USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
President Trump is speaking out amid the national anthem controversy in the WNBA.
Before all three games of the WNBA Finals, players from both the Valkyries and the Dream could be seen leaving for the locker room during the national anthem.
Via Fox News/Outkick
Both teams were off the court during the anthem before Game 3 of the WNBA Finals on Wednesday night at State Farm Arena, marking their third straight absence despite a provision in the league’s own rulebook calling for players to stand and line up during the performance.
Seconds before the national anthem begins, players from both WNBA Finals teams jog off the court. And for the third straight game, they don’t return until the song is over.
The Atlanta Dream and Golden State Valkyries repeat the routine Wednesday night at State Farm Arena, despite league rules requiring players, coaches and trainers to stand in line during the anthem.
@Outkick reports that the WNBA, both teams and the NBA have yet to answer questions about the repeated absences or whether any disciplinary action is being considered.
See what else OutKick observed during the Game 3 anthem: https://t.co/IVGC5qXiq4
— Fox News (@FoxNews) October 22, 2026
During a rally in Iowa, Trump brought up the WNBA players leaving the court during the anthem.
‘By the way, what’s going on with the Women’s NBA? What’s that all about?’
‘You know, they’ll destroy themselves before they get started. Because they just started to do good.’
Trump would later imply that people should boycott the WNBA.
“No, it’s a big deal going on,’ he added. ‘They leave the court when the national anthems play. What’s that all about?”
‘You know, 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.’
President Donald Trump has called for a boycott of the WNBA over players leaving the court while the national anthem plays. The Atlanta Dream and Golden State Valkyries have left the court for the national anthem before every game of the WNBA Finals so far, prompting a backlash from conservative critics.
— Newsweek (@Newsweek) October 23, 2026