The WNBA Finals are knotted up at two games apiece between the Atlanta Dream and the Golden State Valkyries, but for way too many, the real story isn’t about incredible basketball on the court. The Valkyries just snagged a crucial 67-62 win at State Farm Arena to tie the series, yet the national anthem debate, not the thrilling play, still seems to grab all the headlines.
The Game on the Court, The Drama Off It
Saturday afternoon saw the Golden State Valkyries pull off a massive 67-62 victory against the Atlanta Dream at State Farm Arena, bringing the WNBA Finals to a nail-biting 2-2 series tie. Before the ball even tipped, Tyler Perry leading lady Crystal Renee took center stage to belt out the national anthem. You had your usual scene: photographers, game officials, event security all around her, and a packed house standing for the flag. But here’s the kicker: the teams themselves? They did what’s now become standard, chilling in their locker rooms during the anthem. As soon as the lights came back up, they were back on the floor, shootarounds resuming like nothing had happened. Honestly, if you’re truly dialed into the finals, watching these teams battle it out, that brief moment they stepped away probably didn’t even register after the Valkyries’ huge win.
Seven Years Later: The Anthem Still Rages
It’s wild, right? Seven years ago, Jay-Z himself basically said the culture had “moved past kneeling,” sounding what everyone thought was the death knell for that era of sports activism. His partnership with the NFL at the time solidified the league’s move to bow to political pressure and crack down on anthem protests, with other major US sports leagues eventually following suit. That movement had done a ton to raise awareness about racial disparities, which was a huge part of a bigger social change. But apparently, right-wing media and politicians totally missed the memo. They’re still out there, making sports a battleground for patriotism, and sadly, basketball, especially the WNBA, seems to be caught in the crossfire. For far too many watching, the actual game, the talent, the competition, all that amazing basketball, is totally beside the point.
So, here we are: WNBA Finals tied at 2-2. The Golden State Valkyries and Atlanta Dream are locked in an intense fight, delivering absorbing basketball. The series is teetering on a knife’s edge. What’s next for these teams on the court will determine who hoists that trophy. But man, you gotta wonder when the focus is going to shift entirely back to the incredible athletes and away from these endless, exhausting debates.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by The Guardian.
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