GOAL takes a look at the latest USWNT controversy and why it really shouldn't be one at all…
The buildup to the World Cup was somewhat quiet by U.S. women's national team standards. There was no equal pay lawsuit looming over everything, no ongoing war of words with the sitting U.S. President. It seemed like this summer's tournament would just be about the soccer.
Well, maybe we shouldn't have been so naive.
The USWNT once again finds itself at the center of a political tussle – one that, at least for one summer, they looked so likely to avoid. This one, of course, centers around the national anthem, which, even seven years after Colin Kaepernick's protest, remains a fiercely debated topic for whatever reason.
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This time around, though, the USWNT isn't being criticized for kneeling or protesting. Instead, a section of the country is upset that the team is…not singing together. They are sending no messages, making no displays, but there is still a group out there that believes that U.S. is failing to respect their country. No matter what they do, the USWNT can't seem to win when it comes to to this stuff, can they?
So how did we get here? What have the USWNT done to remain such a divisive team, and why are we all, once again, debating something this ridiculous in the middle of a World Cup? GOAL takes a look…
GettyWhat has happened
When the Star Spangled Banner played ahead of the USWNT's World Cup opener at Vietnam, the 11 starts stood facing the flag. The song played and each paid their respects, albeit in different ways. Julie Ertz, Alyssa Naeher and Lindsey Horan sang along. Some of their team-mates had their hand over their heart and some had their head down deep in thought as the anthem played.
There were no gestures, no protests, no signs of unhappiness, just a group of players seemingly soaking in the moment on the biggest stage. Yet, for several sections of the country, that isn't enough.
The USWNT were immediately under fire from conservative figures for their "disrespect" of the anthem. Former South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley was among those to hit out.
"The US women’s soccer team is living the American Dream," she said in a tweet. "They were born in the freest, fairest country in the world that has rewarded their hard work. They should remember that blessing & the men & women (like my husband) proudly defending it next time the national anthem plays."
Meanwhile, talk show host Megyn Kelly said: “I really do believe their version of what a feminist is, what it means to be an empowered woman, at least as an American woman, means you need to hate your country.
“It means to go out on the national stage and embarrass yourself and your country by not singing the national anthem. For several of them, not even holding their hands over their hearts when the national anthem played, was a bridge too far.
“They couldn’t be bothered to actually place their hand on their heart as the national anthem played, as they stood out there representing you and me and the country and our military and people who have given their lives for the country that they represent.
“It was too much of an effort [for them] to place their hand over their heart, or God forbid, sing.”
This, of course, isn't the first national anthem controversy the USWNT has found themselves part of, which, is, of course, why this is such a hot topic to begin with.
AdvertisementGettyMegan Rapinoe's history
To understand why certain people are angry at something as trivial as singing a song, you have to understand that there are large sections of the U.S. that simply cannot stand Megan Rapinoe.
The USWNT icon is about as divisive a figure as there is in American sports – a player and person that has never been afraid to mix politics and sports. She rose to a new level of fame during her Golden Ball-winning run through the 2019 World Cup, when she publicly battled U.S. President Donald Trump in a famous war of words.
"You know he was watching that game," she told TIME. "You know he had his McDonald’s lined up and he was probably like, ‘You know what, I love that.’ I always felt Trump loved me.
“I’m exactly what they’re familiar and comfortable with, just packaged up differently. But I’m exactly the brash, arrogant athlete that Americans love.”
Rapinoe, of course, has long been at the center of the national anthem debate as well. She famously kneeled in support of Kaepernick's protest, adding that she didn't think she would ever feel the same way about the national anthem again.
Several of her team-mates have joined in the protest, with a majority of the team opting to kneel back in 2020 ahead of a game against the Netherlands, including Naeher, who has been praised so much for singing this time around.
GettyThe actual rules
After Rapinoe's kneeling became a national headline, U.S. Soccer, like many other American sports entities, moved swiftly to clarify an anthem policy. That policy was ultimately repealed in 2020 amid protests following the death of George Floyd.
"U.S. Soccer affirms Black Lives Matter, and we support the fight against racial injustices," the federation said. "The U.S. Soccer Board of Directors voted yesterday afternoon to repeal Policy 604-1, which required our players to stand during the national anthem.
"The policy was put in place after Megan Rapinoe kneeled in solidarity with the peaceful protest inspired by Colin Kaepernick, who was protesting police brutality, and the systematic oppression of Black people and people of color in America. It has become clear that this policy was wrong and detracted from the important message of Black Lives Matter.
"We have not done enough to listen – especially to our players – to understand and acknowledge the very real and meaningful experiences of Black and other minority communities in our country. We apologize to our players – especially our Black players – staff, fans, and all who support eradicating racism. Sports are a powerful platform for good, and we have not used our platform as effectively as we should have. We can do more on these specific issues and we will. It should be, and will be going forward, up to our players to determine how they can best use their platforms to fight all forms of racism, discrimination, and inequality."
Even so, prior to the decision to abolish the policy, the federation simply required players to "stand respectfully during the playing of national anthems at any event in which the Federation is represented". That, of course, is exactly what the USWNT has done so far.
It's similar to the rules of the NBA, which requires “players, coaches and trainers are to stand and line up in a dignified posture along the sidelines or on the foul line during the playing of the National Anthem”. The NFL, meanwhile, says that "during the National Anthem, players on the field and bench area should stand at attention, face the flag, hold helmets in their left hand, and refrain from talking".
Once again, the USNWT has not done anything that would violate those rules. They are, though, held to unspoken standards as a national team – standards that their counterparts have never been held to.
Moving goalposts
There is no more famous team in American sports than the Dream Team. For many, it was the moment that sports truly broke into becoming something so much larger. Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson, Larry Bird… all icons of American sports that helped transcend what it meant to be an American athlete.
Their run through the 1992 Summer Olmypics is legendary, and they are still seen by many as the best team ever assembled in any sport. They were unstoppable, claiming Olympic gold in Barcelona while setting a new mark for American dominance.
Let's look back at their big national anthem moment, shall we?
As the Star Spangled Banner played, many of the players stared stoically. Johnson let out a little smirk, seemingly soaking in the achievement. Jordan, who famously used the American flag to cover up a company that didn't sponsor him during that ceremony, is seen chewing gum. Not singing… chewing gum.
The Dream Team is seen as the peak of American excellence, while the USWNT has been branded anti-American in some quarters. Neither sang the anthem at full voice, but only one side is being criticized here.
We could also look at the Super Bowl from this past February, when Jalen Hurts is seen bowing his head in thought or Patrick Mahomes is silently bouncing back and forth on his feet. Or when former President Trump himself only sang parts of the anthem ahead of an NCAA Championship clash between Alabama and Georgia.
The goalposts keep moving, and, for one reason or another, the USWNT find themselves on the outside. For those paying attention, though, it isn't hard to guess why.