WNBA Is The Only Pro League To Refuse The ‘USA 250’ Patch. Here’s The Excuse They Gave.

When the patches were first proposed, WNBPA Treasurer Brianna Turner raised eyebrows when she suggested that the patch should be rejected over slavery, and said in a post on X that, “No WNBA players would have been free 250 years ago. The majority wouldn’t even have their freedom 100 years ago.”

Turner’s sentiment spurred a “discussion” in the league, and WNBA officials then refused to say one way or the other if the patches would be worn for the July 25 game. Ultimately—and without any official explanation—the patches were rejected for the game.

The Las Vegas Aces forward’s extended attack on the U.S. went on, too. In another post, she wrote: “We are some of the most elite female athletes. 250 years ago, we would have been breeders or in the fields working all day. Be so serious rn.”

With all this bad mouthing of the United States, it is hard to understand why Turner would have played for Team USA at the 2012 FIBA Under-17 World Championship, the 2013 FIBA Under-19 World Championship, and the 2014 FIBA Americas Under-18 Championship.

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Imagine being butthurt over the birthday of the country you live in

— Will Applebee (@WillApplebee) June 5, 2026

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Or, you can just celebrate the 250th of the world's greatest nation.

History isn't meant to be avoided.

— Melik Abdul (@MelikAbdul_) June 4, 2026

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This is the most bizarre take ever. She's saying we shouldn't celebrate people being free now because they wouldn't have been free 250 years ago …

… say what? Shouldn't we celebrate progress and freedom for all?

As the saying goes, good lady,

"Shut up and dribble!"

w.

— Willis Eschenbach (@WEschenbach) July 26, 2026

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Multiple professional sports or entertainment entities have worn patches or emblems to commemorate the country’s semiquincentennial, including at the Super Bowl, Wrestlemania 42, NBA Finals and MLB All-Star Game earlier this month, among many others. The patches were in partnership with the nationally nonpartisan and congressionally backed America250 organization, with celebrations and events happening throughout the year. America250 is separate from the President Donald Trump’s Freedom 250 initiative, which has received intense scrutiny from Democratic lawmakers as it celebrates the nation’s independence.

No WNBA player has publicly said they refused to wear the USA 250 patches, although some fans on social media condemned them as an endorsement of the Trump administration and its stance on reproductive and transgender rights.

“As a league, your representation of everyone in the league is really important,” Minnesota Lynx coach Cheryl Reeve said. “
You’re certainly not gonna please everyone. As we know, politics, it’s a viewpoint. We all have different viewpoints. It is the 250th year of our country. 
It is a large celebration. I think the undertones are always going to be there, but this is a height of time. We’re in league that’s always taken on issues. 
That’s not going to change. And I don’t think it should change. But I think the league has to lead with the idea of everyone in mind. And I think that can be a really difficult balancing act.”

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