Staff Reports
Vice President JD Vance made headlines this week when he called out WNBA players who repeatedly walked off the court before the national anthem during the WNBA Finals. The footage shows members of the Atlanta Dream and the Golden State Valkyries leaving the floor just before the anthem began — for multiple games in a row. Vance called the move “disgraceful” and said athletes who benefit from American freedom should show some gratitude.
Vance slams the Finals walkouts
On the radio program Arroyo Grande, Vice President JD Vance did not mince words. He said players should not express political disagreements by “disrespecting the country writ large,” and that many of these athletes have “a lot to be grateful to the United States for.” That plain talk landed like a bucket of cold water on an athletic league that seems to prefer symbolism over simple respect for the flag.
League rules and the glaring inconsistency
The WNBA rulebook is clear: players are expected to stand and line up during the national anthem. Yet these Finals games featured teams off the court during the song, three times in a row. The league and the teams have offered little explanation so far, which only fuels the perception that rules are enforced when convenient and ignored the rest of the time.
What this really says about priorities
Fans don’t pay for political theater; they pay to watch basketball. When players stage repeated walkouts at the biggest moment of the season, they are choosing messaging over the game and over the people who keep the league running. If athletes want to push a political line, fine — but don’t hide behind the anthem to do it, and don’t act surprised when the public pushes back.
Enforce rules and restore respect
Vance’s point is simple: if the anthem matters, the rules should mean something. The WNBA needs to clarify the rulebook, enforce it consistently, and explain the teams’ actions to fans. Otherwise the league will keep losing credibility while critics on both sides make the story louder. At the very least, the players and the league owe fans an honest answer — not another walkoff.
