“WHY DID THEY STAY?”: Caitlin Clark and the Indiana Fever Take Powerful Stand During National Anthem—Opposing Team Walks Off Again, Sparking Nationwide Debate and Leaving Fans Demanding Answers!
“WHY DID THEY STAY?”: Caitlin Clark’s Fever Take Bold National Anthem Stand as Opponents Walk Off Again /dn
Caitlin Clark’s Indiana Fever Make Important National Anthem Decision As Their Opponents Walk Off The Court Once Again
Caitlin Clark with her teammates (Photo By Grace Hollars/IndyStar / USA TODAY NETWORK)
The Indiana Fever are standing tall- literally and figuratively. As the national conversation around the anthem continues to simmer in sports, Caitlin Clark and her teammates are taking a path that separates them from much of the WNBA.
Saturday night’s nationally televised matchup against the New York Liberty wasn’t just another regular season game. It was a stage, and once again, the Fever made their stance clear before the opening tip. While the Liberty remained in the locker room during the national anthem, Indiana’s players stood in formation at Gainbridge Fieldhouse, hand over heart, facing the flag. It mirrored what happened a week earlier when the Chicago Sky also chose not to take the floor during the anthem. The Fever stood that day, too.
Fever Hold Their Ground As Other Teams Step Away
Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark (Photo By Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports)
This growing trend caught fire after Barstool Sports founder Dave Portnoy, sitting courtside last Saturday, first pointed out that the entire Sky roster stayed in the tunnel. Fast forward one week, and Front Office Sports’ Ryan Glasspiegel confirmed the Liberty made the same move. “Are the Fever the only team in the WNBA that stands on the court for the national anthem?” Glasspiegel posted on X.
On Memorial Day weekend, a time of remembrance across the country, the optics stirred a stronger reaction. Fans voiced frustration on social media about teams skipping the anthem altogether. In contrast, Caitlin Clark, already one of the league’s most visible stars, became a focal point again- this time not just for her jump shot, but for her quiet presence during “The Star-Spangled Banner.”
Photos from the scene show Clark front and center before the game against the Atlanta Dream on May 20, standing respectfully with her team. Ron Hoskins of NBAE captured the moment, which has since circulated widely.
