The WNBA is facing a backlash from fans and commentators after its players did not wear "USA 250" patches during the recent All-Star game in Chicago. The absence of the commemorative badges has drawn criticism, particularly as other major sports leagues in the United States, including Major League Baseball and the NFL, have incorporated similar tributes to mark America's 250th anniversary.
While MLB players wore the crest during their All-Star game, and the New England Patriots and Seattle Seahawks sported them during the Super Bowl in February, WNBA players, including star Caitlin Clark, did not have the patches on their jerseys. Reports on June 4 indicated that players would wear the patches, but the WNBA later stated they were "exploring how to commemorate the country's 250th anniversary... nothing has been finalized."
Las Vegas Aces player and WNBA players' treasurer Brianna Turner had publicly expressed opposition to the patches. Turner commented on X, formerly Twitter, that "The irony of all the USA 250 stuff is that the vast majority of people in America today would not have been ‘free’ 250 years ago." She added that the "majority wouldn’t even have their freedom 100 years ago," suggesting that the call for the patches was ill-considered given the historical context of freedom and civil rights in the U.S.
Following the WNBA All-Star game, the league provided a statement to Fox News that did not directly address the absence of the patches. The statement read, "As America celebrates its 250th anniversary, the WNBA was proud to honor the service and sacrifice of our nation’s veterans and military families. Veterans and military families have long been part of the WNBA community – as players, fans, and league, team, and arena staff. Through All-Star Weekend in Chicago, the league recognized their contributions and helped create meaningful experiences in celebration of this historic milestone."
Prior to the game, Nneka Ogwumike, Los Angeles Sparks player and WNBPA president, acknowledged that players had discussed the potential patch with the league. "As players, we did ask about it," Ogwumike stated. "I think being in a league where you’re able to have that type of conversation with your leadership is important."
Online reactions to the WNBA's decision have been largely critical. One user on X wrote, "I personally find this unbelievable. The patch honors the nation's founding ideals and the extraordinary progress that made a league like the WNBA possible in the first place. Rejecting a simple patriotic gesture over historical grievances ignores how far the country has come - and the freedoms these athletes enjoy today." Another commenter expressed, "Only the WNBA could turn a harmless America 250 uniform patch into another opportunity for petty political theater. Rather than honor the country celebrating its 250th anniversary, the league once again chose resentment, division and self-inflicted controversy." A third comment read, "How absurd!! WNBA better hope they don’t lose the support of proud Americans who believe in celebrating our country’s birth."
When Fanatics announced its partnership with major sports leagues in January to create commemorative crests for America's 250th birthday, the WNBA was notably absent from the press release. NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell and NBA Commissioner Adam Silver both issued statements expressing pride in celebrating the anniversary, but the WNBA and its commissioner, Cathy Engelbert, were not mentioned. The league is set to return to regular season play on Tuesday night with five games, including the Indiana Fever facing the Seattle Storm.