With the WNBA already investigating allegations of racism towards Angel Reese critics, one other controversy has marred the league’s opening week: The Chicago Sky’s resolution to depart the court docket throughout Saturday’s nationwide anthem.
Caitlin Clark‘s Indiana Fever had been internet hosting the Sky in Indianapolis, the place many attendees, together with Barstool’s Dave Portnoy, observed Chicago’s conspicuous absence throughout The Star-Spangled Banner.
In line with varied on-line reviews, Reese & Co. had been concerned of their pre-game shootaround solely moments earlier.
‘Chicago Sky did not come out for the anthem?’ Portnoy wrote on X. ‘Bizarre.’
The response was speedy and unrelenting.
‘And so they surprise why nobody watches WNBA or why they dont (sic) receives a commission what nba gamers receives a commission,’ one critic wrote on Saturday. ‘too woke, dangerous basketball.’
By late Sunday, the uproar nonetheless hadn’t died down.
Caitlin Clark of the Indiana Fever stands for the Nationwide Anthem earlier than Saturday’s opener
Angel Reese is seen on the court docket previous to Saturday’s season opener towards the Fever
WNBA guidelines requires gamers to line up and stand ‘in a dignified posture’ throughout the anthem
‘The sky stayed within the locker room throughout the Nationwide anthem,’ one other critic wrote.
One viewer went as far as to accuse the Sky of skipping the anthem on account of ‘racism,’ describing the staff as an ‘anti-White, anti-straight group.’
Some got here outfitted with the WNBA rule e book, which requires ‘gamers, coaches, and trainers’ to ‘stand and line up in a dignified posture alongside the sidelines or on the foul line throughout the enjoying of the Nationwide Anthem.’
‘What would be the punishment for the Sky leaving the court docket earlier than the Nationwide Anthem?’ one such fan requested.
DailyMail.com has reached out to WNBA and Sky spokespeople for remark.
The WNBA launched a racism investigation a day after Angel Reese obtained into it with Caitlin Clark
That was hardly the one controversy from the Fever’s 93-58 blowout win over the rival Sky – a sport that included Clark’s extensively disputed flagrant foul on Reese, who was knocked to the ground on the play.
Reese appeared to curse at her fellow second-year WNBA star and tried to confront Clark, who was visibly upset to be referred to as for a flagrant.
Since then, Reese has allegedly been focused with racist assaults, which the WNBA is now investigating.
‘The WNBA strongly condemns racism, hate, and discrimination in all varieties – they don’t have any place in our league or in society,’ the league mentioned in a press release. ‘We’re conscious of the allegations and are trying into the matter.’
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