Sophie Cunningham Questions WNBA Anthem Backlash While Explaining Why She Stands for It
· Yahoo Sports
Sophie Cunningham has weighed in on the WNBA's national anthem controversy, questioning why teams' pregame routines are drawing criticism now when they have been happening all season.
The Indiana Fever guard discussed the issue during the October 28 episode of Theo Von's This Past Weekend podcast. She did not name the Atlanta Dream or Golden State Valkyries, the two Finals teams whose absence from the court during the anthem has attracted attention.
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The criticism has reached beyond basketball. Vice President JD Vance has accused teams of disrespecting the country.
Cunningham's own team followed a different routine. Indiana and Minnesota were among the WNBA teams that remained on the floor during the anthem this season.
Cunningham Explains Her Family's Connection to Military Service
Cunningham told Von that members of her family had served in the military. She credited service members with protecting the freedoms that allow her to pursue her career and said she wants to acknowledge veterans and those currently serving whenever she can.
"That doesn't mean that's where everyone stands and if it's right, wrong, whatever," she said, according to Complex. "I take a lot of pride of where I come from, and I'm proud to be an American citizen."
The Teams' Anthem Routines Predate This Year's Finals
According to The Associated Press, WNBA teams have been leaving the court before the anthem for at least six seasons. Some have done so to draw attention to social justice issues, while others use the time to continue preparing for games.
The Valkyries told the AP that their locker-room routine has been consistent since the franchise began playing in 2025. Atlanta has also left the floor before the anthem for several years.
The league's written rulebook calls for players, coaches and trainers to stand along the sidelines or foul line during the anthem. However, the WNBA suspended those protocols late in the 2017 season, allowing players and coaches to show support for victims of the white nationalist rally in Charlottesville, Virginia.
The AP reported that the league appeared to be leaving the decision to teams, although who has final authority remained unclear. The WNBA did not respond to the outlet's request for clarification for its October 20 report.
The Finals will be decided on October 31 in San Francisco. Atlanta's 80-69 win over Golden State on October 29 tied the series at three games apiece and forced the WNBA's first Finals Game 7.