‘What Idiots,’ ‘Shameful’ — Controversy Erupts As WNBA Removes USA 250 Patches During All-Star Game

The WNBA’s All-Star Game should have been a celebration of the best in women’s basketball and of a league that has garnered so many positive headlines due to its growing popularity.

Unfortunately for the WNBA, it has been marred by its decision to remove the USA 250 jersey patch, a nonpartisan congressional patch celebrating the country’s 250th anniversary, which all other major sports have had no problem wearing.

As one can imagine, there has been significant national backlash to this decision.

WNBA’s Decision To Remove USA 250 Patch Sparks National Outrage

Per Yahoo Sports, the WNBA said players would wear a patch to commemorate the USA’s 250th anniversary, but the WNBA Players Association rejected it, particularly vice president Breanna Stewart of the New York Liberty.

Meanwhile, WNBAPA president Nneka Ogwumike stated, “We also have individuals and communities that we represent, and we also understand our mission statement.” The slightly ambiguous wording is unlikely to sit well with many who were offended by their decision to remove the patch.

WNBAPA Treasurer Brianna Turner wrote a post on social media, saying, “…no WNBA player would be free 250 years ago.”

Furthermore, the league hasn’t explained its decision amid widespread public criticism.

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Leading the pushback, OutKick’s Jon Root wrote, “The WNBA disrespected America tonight by refusing to wear the USA 250 patch on their All-Star jerseys.” Also, Root pointed out, “They’re the only major American sports league to refuse to wear the patches.”

Jay’V wrote on X, “This league is run poorly. They cater to the wrong crowd.” Meanwhile, another X user simply posted, “Shameful.”

One X account pointed out some contradictions in the WNBAPA’s reasoning, writing, “What idiots. The fact they wouldn’t have is more reason to wear it. You should be celebrating the progress, not disrespecting the place they made the progress wtf how does that make any sense?”

To take it a step further, the country has progressed to the point where people are free to express their views, including removing a congressional patch if they so wish.

Another offended user described those behind the decision to remove the patch as “nitwits.”

Not everyone was offended by the decision, however; Jared Stillman of Sirius XM was unmoved and wrote in response to Root’s angry tweet, “You can’t tell me you actually care about this, right?”

Additionally, one user leaped to the defense of Turner’s reasoning, insisting, “Brianna Turner is right. Women had no rights 250 years ago. They couldn’t even vote 106 years ago.”

Regardless of one’s opinion on the matter, it must be emphasized that the NBA, MLB, and NFL all commemorate it, and that it is nonpartisan, further highlighting the controversy behind the WNBA’s decision.