Por Renan Filho · 2026-10-21**Lead**
The National Basketball Association (NBA) has remained conspicuously silent this week after reports emerged that players from both teams competing in the WNBA Finals chose not to be present on the court during the performance of the national anthem prior to Games 1 and 2. The league, which has historically offered public support for players’ social justice initiatives, has issued no official statement, press release, or comment from Commissioner Adam Silver or any other executive. The lack of response has drawn attention from sports commentators, political figures, and fans, who note the contrast with past instances where the NBA addressed anthem-related gestures more directly.
**Context**
The reported action occurred during the opening games of the WNBA Finals, a championship series that sees the two top teams in the league compete for the title. News outlets and social media accounts with access to the arena reported that after the starting lineups were announced, many players from both rosters remained in the locker room or near the tunnel area while the national anthem was performed, rather than standing on the sideline as is customary. By the time the anthem concluded, all players had taken their positions on the court for tip-off. No formal statement was made by either team, and no players individually addressed the media after the games, though some were seen wearing warm-up shirts with social justice messages.
This is not the first time professional basketball has been the stage for anthem-related demonstrations. The WNBA, in particular, has a history of activism. In 2020, during the bubble season, many WNBA players knelt during the anthem to protest racial injustice and police brutality, and the league publicly supported their right to do so. The NBA itself saw similar protests in 2020 after the murder of George Floyd, with players kneeling during the anthem in the Orlando bubble. In 2023, the NBA re-instituted a policy that required players to stand for the anthem, but with a clause allowing them to remain in the locker room if they chose not to participate. That policy, which was originally implemented in 2017 after then-President Donald Trump criticized the NFL for allowing kneeling, was eventually relaxed. Currently, individual team policies govern player conduct during the anthem, and the NBA has not enforced a league-wide mandate since 2023.
The timing of the silence is striking. The WNBA has seen unprecedented growth in viewership and cultural influence, and its players have often been at the forefront of social issues. The NBA, meanwhile, has been navigating a complex landscape where commercial interests, political pressure from both sides, and player activism must be balanced. Commissioner Adam Silver has repeatedly said the league supports players’ rights to express themselves, but he has also emphasized the importance of respect for the flag and the country. By staying silent on this specific instance, the NBA may be trying to avoid inflaming a contentious issue that pits those two principles against each other.
**Análise**
The significance of the league’s silence cannot be overstated. In previous seasons, when players engaged in anthem protests, the NBA — often through Silver — released statements explaining the league’s stance, either defending players’ First Amendment rights or clarifying that the league expects players to stand but respects their choice to protest. The absence of any such communication now suggests a calculated decision to let the controversy simmer without adding fuel. Some observers interpret this as a sign that the league is wary of alienating its broad, increasingly polarized fan base. With the WNBA gaining more male and conservative viewers in addition to its traditional audience, a strong pro-protest statement could hurt growth, while a strong anti-protest statement could anger the league’s core progressive players and fans.
Others see the silence as a strategic move to preserve the league’s relationship with its players’ union. The National Basketball Players Association (NBPA) has been in ongoing negotiations with the NBA regarding the collective bargaining agreement, and public disputes over anthem policy could complicate those talks. The WNBA players’ union, the Women’s National Basketball Players Association (WNBPA), has been vocal about social justice, and the NBA may be deferring to the WNBA’s own leadership to handle the matter. So far, the WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert has also offered no statement, suggesting a unified strategy of quiet.
The broader cultural impact is already being felt. Conservatives commentators have condemned the reported snub as disrespectful to military servicemen and women, while progressive voices have praised the players for exercising their right to peaceful protest. Without an official word from the league, each side is left to project its own interpretation onto the silence. This vacuum of communication could further polarize an already divided public discourse on patriotism in sports.
**Fontes**
This report is based on publicly available information from accredited media reports covering the WNBA Finals, including statements from both teams' public relations departments (which have declined to comment), and previous NBA and WNBA policy statements regarding anthem conduct. No direct interviews were conducted. The lack of official NBA response has been confirmed by multiple beat reporters covering the league. The factual basis for the players’ absence during the anthem comes from visual evidence from the arena broadcast and subsequent social media posts verified by news organizations. No individual player names have been used to avoid speculation. The analysis reflects common observations among sports journalists covering the event.