Trump Targets WNBA: President Donald Trump Calls for Fans to Stop Watching Over National Anthem Controversy

President Donald Trump has sparked a new debate surrounding the Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) after urging fans to stop watching the league if players refuse to remain on the court during the performance of the national anthem. His comments, delivered at a rally in Iowa on Thursday, October 22, 2026, have brought renewed attention to the intersection of professional sports, patriotism, player routines, and freedom of expression.

The controversy involves the Atlanta Dream and Golden State Valkyries, two teams competing in the WNBA Finals. Both teams have been leaving the court before the national anthem is played, returning after the ceremony concludes. Trump criticized the practice and suggested that it could damage the league just as women’s basketball is attracting growing attention. According to the Associated Press, players from both teams have said they are concentrating on their championship series rather than allowing outside criticism to distract them. <Cite refs={[“turn954882search2″,”turn954882search0”]}/>

The president’s remarks have placed the WNBA in the middle of a familiar national discussion about how athletes should behave during the national anthem and whether fans should respond to those decisions by withholding their support.

Trump Criticizes the WNBA During Iowa Rally

During his Thursday rally, Trump questioned why WNBA players were leaving the court before the national anthem. He warned that the league could undermine its own progress and compared the situation to earlier controversies involving the National Football League (NFL).

Trump argued that declining viewership had played a role in ending the NFL’s anthem-related protests and encouraged basketball fans to take similar action against the WNBA.

His comments were direct, placing the league’s pregame practices at the center of his criticism. He suggested that fans should stop watching women’s basketball unless the situation changed. <Cite refs={[“turn954882search0″,”turn954882search1”]}/>

The remarks come during a championship series that has attracted attention beyond the basketball court. Rather than remaining a discussion about pregame routines, the issue has become part of a wider cultural debate about patriotism, professional athletes, and the expectations placed on sports organizations.

Trump has previously criticized athletes over their conduct during the national anthem. His latest comments demonstrate that the subject remains an important part of his public messaging.

However, the current controversy involves a specific distinction: the players are leaving the court before the anthem rather than necessarily staging a protest while it is being performed.

Why Are the Atlanta Dream and Golden State Valkyries Leaving the Court?

The Atlanta Dream and Golden State Valkyries have been leaving the court before the national anthem during the WNBA Finals. The practice has attracted criticism from some observers, particularly those who believe players should remain present during the ceremony.

However, reports indicate that leaving the court before the anthem is not a new development in the WNBA.

According to Associated Press reporting published October 23, many teams have followed this pregame routine for several years. The practice has sometimes been associated with social justice issues and sometimes with ordinary preparations before games.

The Golden State Valkyries have explained that going inside the locker room during the anthem is part of their established pregame routine. The franchise, which entered the league in 2025, has continued that approach during its inaugural seasons. Atlanta has also followed a similar routine for several years. <Cite refs={[“turn954882search1″,”turn954882search2”]}/>

This context is important because the teams’ actions should not automatically be interpreted as a coordinated political protest.

A team’s decision to leave the floor may reflect its established schedule, its preparation preferences, or a broader statement. Understanding the reason requires looking at the circumstances and the explanations provided by the people involved.

The controversy has nevertheless raised questions about whether professional athletes should be expected to remain visible during national ceremonies and how leagues should address differing views among their teams.

What Does the WNBA Rulebook Say About the National Anthem?

One of the most significant details in the debate concerns the league’s official rules.

The WNBA rulebook states that players, coaches, and trainers are to stand in a dignified posture along the sidelines or on the foul line during the playing of the national anthem.

However, the league suspended its anthem-related protocols in 2017, according to Associated Press reporting. That suspension meant the league was no longer enforcing the same requirements in the manner previously prescribed. <Cite refs={[“turn954882search0″,”turn954882search3”]}/>

The distinction between written rules and their enforcement has become central to the current discussion.

Critics may argue that players should remain on the court because the national anthem represents the country and the people who serve it. Others may argue that athletes should have some discretion over their pregame routines, particularly when the league has suspended the relevant protocols.

These positions reflect different expectations about the relationship between professional sports and national symbols.

The WNBA had not issued a public comment on Trump’s remarks in the Associated Press report published October 23.

For now, the controversy remains focused on the teams’ conduct, the league’s policies, and the president’s call for fans to withdraw their support.

WNBA Players Say Their Focus Remains on Basketball

Despite the attention surrounding Trump’s comments, players involved in the Finals have emphasized their commitment to preparing for their games.

Atlanta Dream guard Allisha Gray told reporters on Friday that she was focused on the Finals and was not spending much time following social media discussions.

Golden State Valkyries forward Kiah Stokes similarly emphasized the importance of staying connected with teammates and staff while avoiding outside distractions.

Their comments suggest that the players are attempting to keep their attention on the championship series rather than allowing the controversy to dominate their preparations. <Cite refs={[“turn954882news4″,”turn954882search2”]}/>

For athletes competing at the highest level, concentration and team unity can be particularly important during a Finals series. Media attention, public criticism, and political commentary can add pressure to an already demanding environment.

The players’ statements do not resolve the disagreement over the anthem. Instead, they indicate that at least some of the athletes involved are choosing to prioritize basketball while the debate continues outside the arena.

Whether the controversy will affect the teams’ public image or fan engagement remains uncertain.

The NFL Comparison: A Familiar National Debate

Trump’s reference to the NFL connects the current dispute to a controversy that became prominent in American sports during the late 2010s.

Former San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick began kneeling during the national anthem in 2016 to protest racial injustice and police brutality. Other NFL players subsequently participated in anthem demonstrations, drawing both support and criticism.

The protests generated extensive public debate about patriotism, racial equality, workplace expectations, and the role of professional athletes in political discussions.

Trump became a prominent critic of the protests, arguing that players should stand during the national anthem. His latest comments about the WNBA follow a similar line of criticism, although the circumstances are not identical: leaving the court before the anthem is different from kneeling during it.

Trump suggested that the NFL’s experience demonstrated how fan behavior could influence league decisions. However, the history of the NFL protests involved multiple factors, and the president’s explanation should be understood as his characterization rather than a complete account of why the controversy evolved. <Cite refs={[“turn954882news5″,”turn954882search2”]}/>

The comparison illustrates why national anthem disputes continue to generate strong reactions. For some fans, the ceremony represents a moment of collective respect for the country and its military. For others, debates about the anthem also raise questions about individual expression and the boundaries of acceptable conduct in professional sports.

These disagreements are unlikely to disappear simply because a league or a political figure takes a particular position.

Could Trump’s Comments Affect WNBA Viewership?

The president’s call for a boycott raises an important question about the possible consequences for the WNBA.

A public figure encouraging fans to stop watching a sports league can generate significant media attention. Some viewers may reconsider their support, while others may continue watching because they are invested in their favorite teams, players, or the championship itself.

At this stage, it would be premature to conclude that Trump’s remarks will cause a decline in viewership. Establishing that would require reliable audience data over time and evidence linking any changes to the controversy.

The WNBA’s growing public profile also provides important context. The league has received increased attention in recent years, and the Finals place its teams and players before a wider audience.

A controversy can bring additional visibility, but attention does not automatically translate into higher or lower viewership. The long-term effects depend on how fans respond, how the league handles the discussion, and whether audiences remain interested in the games themselves.

For the Atlanta Dream and Golden State Valkyries, the immediate challenge is to maintain their focus on the championship while their pregame routines receive national attention.

For the league, the situation presents questions about communication, consistent policies, and how to navigate disagreements involving political figures and fans.

Freedom of Expression and Respect for National Symbols

At the heart of the controversy is a broader question about the expectations surrounding professional athletes.

Some Americans believe players have a responsibility to participate visibly in national ceremonies because professional sports provide a platform that represents the country to millions of viewers.

Others believe that athletes should have reasonable freedom to manage their pregame routines, particularly when their actions do not necessarily involve a public protest or an attempt to disrupt the ceremony.

Both perspectives are part of the ongoing public discussion. Understanding the disagreement requires distinguishing between the facts of what happened and the different meanings people attach to those actions.

In this case, the available reporting establishes that the Atlanta Dream and Golden State Valkyries have left the court before the national anthem and that Trump has urged fans to stop watching the league over the practice.

The reasons behind the routine, the league’s suspended protocols, and the players’ explanations provide additional context that should be considered before drawing conclusions about their intentions.

The controversy also highlights the influence political leaders can have on sports conversations. Their statements can bring national attention to an issue, but fans ultimately decide how they want to respond.

Conclusion: The WNBA Faces a Debate Beyond the Basketball Court

President Donald Trump’s criticism of the WNBA has reignited a familiar debate about the national anthem, patriotism, and the responsibilities of professional athletes.

His call for fans to stop watching the league places the Atlanta Dream and Golden State Valkyries under increased public scrutiny as they compete in the Finals. Yet reporting indicates that the teams’ pregame routines have existed for years, and players have said their immediate priority is preparing for their games.

The controversy also involves the WNBA’s rules, its decision to suspend anthem protocols in 2017, and the different interpretations people place on athletes’ behavior during national ceremonies.

Whether the dispute will have lasting effects on the league’s audience or public image remains to be seen.

For now, the discussion reflects a continuing tension between expectations of national symbolism and the autonomy of professional athletes.

As the Finals continue, the basketball itself remains central to the players’ stated priorities, even as the political debate surrounding their pregame routines attracts national attention.