On May 17, 2025, the Chicago Sky faced the Indiana Fever in a highly anticipated WNBA season opener at Gainbridge Fieldhouse, spotlighting the rivalry between stars Angel Reese and Caitlin Clark.
However, the game was overshadowed by claims that Chicago Sky players walked off the court before the U.S. national anthem, igniting a firestorm of debate across social media and sports media outlets. While the incident remains unconfirmed by official statements from the team or the WNBA, the allegations have raised questions about athlete expression, team conduct, and the intersection of sports and patriotism.Reports surfaced on platforms like X, with Barstool Sports founder Dave Portnoy tweeting,
“Chicago Sky didn’t come out for the anthem? Weird,” and another user claiming, “Bush League Bulls**t Chicago Sky walk off the court during the National Anthem, then come back right after.” These posts, while lacking definitive evidence, fueled speculation that the Sky either failed to appear for the anthem or deliberately left the court during its performance. The lack of clarity has only amplified the controversy, with no video evidence or official comment from the Chicago Sky organization to confirm or refute the claims as of May 18, 2025.The alleged walk-off overshadowed what was meant to be a marquee matchup. Reese, a former LSU star, and Clark, the Iowa phenom, have carried their college rivalry into the WNBA, drawing significant attention to the game. The Fever dominated, with Clark posting a 20-point, 10-rebound, 10-assist triple-double, her third in her career, while Reese led the Sky with 12 points and 17 rebounds. Yet, the focus shifted to the anthem incident, with fans and commentators divided over the implications.Critics on social media labeled the Sky’s
