Donald Trump has warned that WNBA players will “destroy themselves” as he urged fans to switch off games if athletes continue leaving the court before the national anthem.
Players from the Atlanta Dream and Golden State Valkyries have remained in their locker room during “The Star-Spangled Banner” before games in the ongoing WNBA Finals.
Several teams routinely leave the court before the anthem as part of their pre-game preparations, a practice that has drawn criticism from some viewers.
The league’s official rulebook states that players must stand and line up during the national anthem.
However, before Wednesday’s Game 3, the two teams were once again seen heading toward the locker rooms shortly before Q Parker performed “The Star-Spangled Banner” at Atlanta’s State Farm Arena.
Speaking at a Republican rally in Iowa on Thursday night, Trump asked: “By the way, what’s going on with the Women’s NBA? What’s that all about?”
Donald Trump has claimed the WNBA risks “destroying itself” and urged fans to switch off games
Atlanta Dream and Golden State Valkyries players left the court before the national anthem ahead of Game 3 of the WNBA Finals
The crowd booed as he continued: “You know, they’ll destroy themselves before they get started. Because they just started to do good.”
The reaction briefly shifted to cheers when Trump mentioned former Iowa college star Caitlin Clark, now with the Indiana Fever, and credited her with helping the league’s growth. “And you have a player here who was very good, very helpful to that,” he said.
Trump then pointed to the backlash the NFL faced after Colin Kaepernick sparked a wave of national anthem protests in 2016, suggesting the WNBA should take note.
“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.”
Trump also turned his attention to LeBron James, whom he criticized in a Truth Social post after a clip appeared to show the basketball star practicing his shooting motion and golf swing during the anthem before his Philadelphia 76ers debut against the New York Knicks.
He said: “And what about LeBron James? Did you see that deal? During the national anthem he’s practicing his golf swing.”
“What the hell is that? No, it’s a big scandal kind of a story. What’s it all about?”
Trump and JD Vance have both condemned WNBA players leaving the court as “disrespectful”
Other teams, including the Indiana Fever, remain on the court during the anthem before games
Trump is not the only Republican politician to address the WNBA anthem controversy this week. Vice-President JD Vance has also criticized the players’ decision to leave the court.
“I think it’s disgraceful,” he told Raymond Arroyo. “I think that you should not express some criticism of a public policy of a given politician by disrespecting the country writ large.”
‘I mean, those women who play for the WNBA, think of the public safety, think of the incredible wealth and privilege, the amazing jobs that they have.
‘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 vice president added: ‘Whether you were born in the United States or whether you came here by choice, this is your country. And I think that we’re all meant to love it.
‘We’re all meant to try to make it the best version of itself. But fundamentally, I think, without love of country, I think that you’re going to be a disordered human being.’
