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El ‘caso Mbappé’ y cuando China apagó la NBA por un comentario político
El veto del gobierno chino a la retransmisión de los partidos del Real Madrid por el caso Mbappé tiene un antecedente cercano de semejante magnitud. China censuró la emisión televisiva de los encuentros de la NBA durante dos años y medio entre 2019 y 2022 por otro comentario con fondo político. Si en esta ocasión el apagón llega al referirse el delantero francés a Mao Zedong como “dictador”, entonces fue una opinión del director general de los Houston Rockets, Daryl Morey, la que desató la tormenta. “Lucha por la libertad, apoya a Hong Kong”, escribió el directivo en relación a las manifestaciones en dicho territorio a favor de la democracia. China, como ahora sucede con Mbappé, lo consideró un ataque a la identidad nacional y no le tembló el pulso para vetar a un gigante del deporte mundial como la NBA. Tampoco ha dudado actualmente pese a las disculpas del Real Madrid.

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Brett Siegel Talks About Kyrie Irving and Miami Heat Rumors
Kings Fall To 0-5 And Face A Brutal Road To Avoid A Historic Losing Start
Sophie Cunningham Speaks Out on WNBA Teams Skipping the National Anthem
WNBA star Sophie Cunningham is speaking out and blasting the teams that refused to take the court and stand for the national anthem.
The post Sophie Cunningham Speaks Out on WNBA Teams Skipping the National Anthem appeared first on Breitbart.
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- Spurs' Victor Wembanyama embraces competitive edge but rejects villain label after NBA playoff lessons
Spurs' Victor Wembanyama embraces competitive edge but rejects villain label after NBA playoff lessons
Victor Wembanyama is unquestionably one of basketball's brightest young stars. In his third NBA season, he led the San Antonio Spurs to the Finals.
San Antonio ultimately lost the series to the New York Knicks in five games. Wembanyama earned several individual honors, including his first Defensive Player of the Year award and All-NBA selection.
The French-born Spurs forward opened the 2026-27 season under enormous expectations. The 7-foot-4 star was a preseason favorite to win the NBA MVP award, while San Antonio entered the season as an odds-on favorite to win the championship.
The postseason also marked a notable shift in how the public viewed Wembanyama. Once a widely beloved sports figure, he was increasingly cast by some as a villain.
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A series of on-court incidents fueled claims that Wembanyama had become a "dirty" player. One of those situations surfaced in the Western Conference semifinals, when his elbow made contact with then-Minnesota Timberwolves center Naz Reid.
During the Finals, many Knicks fans grew furious at times over Wembanyama’s defense against Jalen Brunson.
Once viewed as a conquering hero, Wembanyama was quickly cast as a New York sports villain. But he insisted the criticism does not faze him.
"No, it didn't because I'm not paying attention to this ... during the Finals. I don't think any player on either team really is," Wembanyama told "60 Minutes" when asked about his portrayal as a villain in a clip released Thursday ahead of Sunday’s full sit-down interview.
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Although Wembanyama said he tunes out much of the noise, he does not appear eager to let the villain label stick. He added that last season’s playoff run taught him where to draw the line between playing with a competitive edge and going a step farther than he should, acknowledging that he crossed it at times.
VICTOR WEMBANYAMA ADMITS TO HARSH TRUTHS AFTER COSTLY MISTAKE AT END OF NBA FINALS GAME
"It showed my limits more than anything else. Going out there, you need to play basketball. You don't need to beat the s--- out of people. [laughs] If you wanna win, at least," Wembanyama said while reflecting on the lessons he learned from last season’s playoff run.
Wembanyama also drew public attention before some Finals games began. He was seen standing with his arms crossed during the U.S. national anthem before Game 1, but reportedly was not on the court for the anthems before Games 3 and 4.
He has not publicly explained why he stood with his arms crossed before Game 1 on June 3. Wembanyama has played in all five of San Antonio’s regular-season games this season, averaging 25 points per game.
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The Spurs return to action Saturday, when they host the Timberwolves.

Portland Trail Blazers x Memphis Grizzlies: horário e onde assistir à NBA
Portland Trail Blazers e Memphis Grizzlies se encontram na noite desta quinta-feira (29) em duelo válido pela NBA. O confronto acontece a partir das 23h (horário de Brasília), no Portland Moda Center, em Portland, no estado do Oregon, nos Estados Unidos.
As duas franquias integram a Conferência Oeste e representam mercados com histórico consolidado no basquete norte-americano.
O duelo entre as duas equipes promete mais um capítulo da disputa entre franquias da Conferência Oeste, sempre marcada pela competitividade e pela busca por espaço entre as melhores da liga.
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A partida será transmitida ao vivo pelo NBA League Pass.
Onde assistir a Portland Trail Blazers x Memphis Grizzlies
- Streaming: NBA League Pass
Ficha técnica de Portland Trail Blazers x Memphis Grizzlies
- Data: 29/10/2026
- Horário: 23h (horário de Brasília)
- Local: Portland Moda Center, nos Estados Unidos
LeBron James terá redução salarial de R$ 250 milhões no 76ers
Atlanta Hawks x Cleveland Cavaliers: horário e onde assistir ao jogo da NBA
Atlanta Hawks e Cleveland Cavaliers se encontram nesta quinta-feira (29), a partir das 21h (horário de Brasília), no Atlanta State Farm Arena, em Atlanta, na Geórgia, em duelo válido pela NBA.
A partida coloca frente a frente duas franquias tradicionais da Conferência Leste, cada uma com sua própria identidade histórica dentro do basquete norte-americano.
Leia Mais:
A partida será transmitida pelo NBA League Pass, plataforma oficial de streaming da liga.
Onde assistir a Atlanta Hawks x Cleveland Cavaliers
- Streaming: NBA League Pass
Ficha técnica de Atlanta Hawks x Cleveland Cavaliers
- Data: 29/10/2026
- Horário: 21h
- Local: Atlanta State Farm Arena, nos Estados Unidos
LeBron James terá redução salarial de R$ 250 milhões no 76ers
Sophie Cunningham Says FBI is Investigating '20 Stalkers' Threatening Her
Sophie Cunningham said on a podcast that she has at least 20 stalkers threatening her and that the FBI is investigating the harassers.
The post Sophie Cunningham Says FBI is Investigating ’20 Stalkers’ Threatening Her appeared first on Breitbart.
WNBA bailed out of scheduling disaster as Angel Reese, Dream force Game 7
Angel Reese and the Atlanta Dream kept their championship hopes alive Thursday. Perhaps more importantly, they spared the WNBA a title celebration in the middle of a workday.
The Dream beat the Golden State Valkyries 80-69 at State Farm Arena, evening the best-of-seven Finals at 3-3 and forcing a deciding game Saturday at 8 p.m. ET at Chase Center in San Francisco.
Reese struggled to shoot the ball for a third consecutive game, finishing with 15 points on 5-for-18 shooting. She grabbed 14 rebounds and dished out six assists but also committed six turnovers.
THE WNBA'S DRAMA-FILLED SEASON COMES TO A CRASHING END
That made it three straight games with more turnovers than made field goals for the Dream star. Across Games 4, 5 and 6, Reese shot 9-for-38 from the floor (24%) and turned the ball over 15 times.
This time, Atlanta had enough offense around her. Allisha Gray scored 23 points and Rhyne Howard added 21, combining to make nine of their 13 three-point attempts.
Their shooting also ensured that the WNBA’s championship would be decided in prime time.
The league moved Game 6 from its originally scheduled 8 p.m. start to 12:30 p.m. Thursday to accommodate an arena doubleheader with the NBA’s Atlanta Hawks, who were hosting the Cleveland Cavaliers that night. Golden State fans back home had to tune in at 9:30 a.m. to watch their team try to win its first title.
There had also been questions about where the Valkyries would celebrate if they won.
ESPN’s Ramona Shelburne reported that a championship celebration could be moved to a practice court to accommodate preparations for the Hawks game. She later clarified that there was "a resolve" to make sure any championship won Thursday was celebrated on the court.
But that sounded an awful lot like damage control from the WNBA. Winning a championship and then moving the celebration to a practice court because the NBA needed the floor would have been a terrible look for the league.
Atlanta’s win made the issue moot.
The crowd deserved credit for showing up under the circumstances. State Farm Arena was largely filled for a Thursday afternoon, although there were more empty seats and the building was quieter at the start than it had been for Games 3 and 4.
Fans who spoke with OutKick outside the arena described taking time off work, pulling children out of school and difficult travel times to attend. Tiffany Hayes’ father, Renard Hayes, blamed the league and Atlanta for the scheduling predicament.
DREAM, VALKYRIES LEAVE COURT BEFORE TI’S 10-YEAR-OLD DAUGHTER SINGS WNBA FINALS ANTHEM
Before tipoff, both teams again left the court for the national anthem, this time performed by rapper T.I.’s 10-year-old daughter, Heiress Harris. It was their sixth consecutive absence during the Finals.
Once the game began, Atlanta quickly took control.
The Dream made six of their eight first-quarter three-point attempts and built a 32-15 lead. Reese made only one of her four shots in the period, but contributed four assists, including passes that set up three of Atlanta’s threes.
Atlanta pushed its advantage to 25 points in the second quarter and took a 46-26 lead into halftime.
Golden State narrowed the deficit in the third, but Atlanta still led 63-47 entering the fourth.
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Reese scored five points in the final period, making a driving layup and a three-pointer with Atlanta already leading by double digits. She finished 2-for-8 from beyond the arc.
The Valkyries eventually got within eight. Gabby Williams completed a three-point play with 1:15 remaining, cutting Atlanta’s lead to 77-69 and fouling Howard out of the game.
Gray answered on the next possession, making a three-pointer off a Reese assist with 56 seconds left. That restored Atlanta’s double-digit lead and provided the final points of the afternoon.
Gray finished 8-for-12 from the field and 5-for-7 from three. Howard made four of her six three-point attempts, while Atlanta went 13-for-30 as a team.
Williams led Golden State with 26 points but shot 8-for-22. The Valkyries made just 22 of their 70 field-goal attempts.
Kiah Stokes, whose defense had been a major factor throughout the series, went scoreless and failed to block a shot in 20 minutes. That ended her streak of six consecutive playoff games with at least three blocks.
Reese and the Dream head to San Francisco for Game 7, with both franchises one win from their first championship.
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And the WNBA gets to award its trophy Saturday night, with no Hawks game waiting on the same floor.

Sophie Cunningham Reveals FBI Stalker Concerns
NBA: Kings y Pelicans, a romper el hielo en Nueva Orleans
Washington, 29 oct (Prensa Latina) Sacramento Kings y New Orleans Pelicans buscarán hoy su primera victoria de la temporada en el baloncesto profesional estadounidense (NBA), cuando se enfrenten en el Smoothie King Center después de encadenar cuatro derrotas por bando.
The post NBA: Kings y Pelicans, a romper el hielo en Nueva Orleans first appeared on Noticias Prensa Latina.
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- Charles Barkley calls out LeBron James for disrespecting the national anthem with practice golf swing
Charles Barkley calls out LeBron James for disrespecting the national anthem with practice golf swing
Charles Barkley did not appreciate seeing LeBron James practicing his golf swing on the court during the middle of the national anthem ahead of his Philadelphia 76ers debut earlier this month.
President Donald Trump blasted James after the incident, calling him a "total disgrace," and while Barkley made it a point to say he doesn't care what the President has to say about anything, the two see eye to eye when it comes to James disrespecting the anthem.
"I don’t pay what President Trump says any attention, first and foremost, at all," Barkley began when asked about the moment on SiriusXM NBA Radio. "But I thought that was very disrespectful, practicing your golf swing in the middle of the anthem. I always stand for the anthem. I just think it’s important. We live in the greatest country ever where you can always protest, but I think you have to be very careful with the anthem."
This is not the first time James has decided that the middle of the national anthem was an opportune time to work on his golf swing.
Last Christmas, while playing for the Los Angeles Lakers, James got in a few practice swings ahead of his team's eventual loss to the Houston Rockets.
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While Barkley mentioned always being allowed to protest, it doesn't appear that James was protesting anything in this instance, but instead simply not being able to stand still and disrespecting the anthem in the process.
"I look at it, I'm supporting the troops when I stand for the national anthem," Barkley continued. "I'm standing there for free speech, so even though I believe in free speech, I think you have to be very careful with the anthem. I always stand for the anthem. I think it's important, and I think it's significant."
James' faux golf swings in the middle of the anthem have understandably drawn attention and criticism, but perhaps the most disrespectful stunt he's pulled during 'The Star-Spangled Banner' came back in 2023.
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As a late arrival to his courtside seats at USC to watch his son, Bronny James, play for the Trojans, LeBron made his entrance during the middle of the anthem, with a hat on, and sat in his seat while the rest of the arena was standing and showing respect to the United States.

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- Dream, Valkyries leave court before TI’s 10-year-old daughter sings WNBA Finals anthem
Dream, Valkyries leave court before TI’s 10-year-old daughter sings WNBA Finals anthem
Heiress Harris, the 10-year-old daughter of rapper T.I., sang the national anthem before Thursday's Game 6 of the WNBA Finals at State Farm Arena. But, as has been the case all series, the players weren't on the court for the performance.
Both the Atlanta Dream and Golden State Valkyries left the floor just before the young Black singer began "The Star-Spangled Banner," marking their sixth straight absence for the anthem in this series.
OutKick interviewed fans outside State Farm Arena prior to Game 6. They offered different views on the practice, with some wanting players on the floor and others defending their choice to leave.
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One defender of the practice was the father of Golden State guard Tiffany Hayes.
"This is America, by the way, and I’ve served this country, so they can choose what they want," Renard Hayes told OutKick.
Asked whether, as a veteran, he had an issue with the absences, he said he did not.
"I don’t have an issue with it because it’s not a disrespect of the flag," he said.
Hayes’ father, who said he lives in Florida, had criticized the game’s 12:30 p.m. start, blaming the league and Atlanta organization for the scheduling situation. On the anthem, however, he defended the players’ freedom to decide.
The game was moved from its originally scheduled 8 p.m. start to accommodate a doubleheader with the NBA’s Atlanta Hawks at State Farm Arena. Golden State entered Thursday leading the best-of-seven series 3–2 after winning Monday’s Game 5, 64–55, with a chance to clinch its first championship.
Some fans want players on the court, while others defend their choice
One Dream fan told OutKick she believed everyone should stand for the national anthem.
A male Valkyries fan said he respected the players’ opinions and beliefs but wanted them on the floor.
VANCE CONDEMNS 'DISGRACEFUL' WNBA NATIONAL ANTHEM WALKOUTS, SAYS PLAYERS SHOULD SHOW MORE GRATITUDE
"I do think they should be out there," he said.
Other fans were less troubled by the absences.
"They’ve been doing it for years," another Dream fan said. "And that’s their choice. It is what it is."
A woman who said she represents Valkyries center Kiah Stokes offered a similar view.
"I think it’s their decision," the representative said.
For one man attending with a female Dream fan, the question was more complicated. Asked whether he considered the absences disrespectful, he said, "Me personally, maybe a little bit."
OUTKICK READERS BLAST WNBA PLAYERS FOR HIDING DURING FINALS NATIONAL ANTHEM
"But it doesn’t concern me that much either," he added. "Not particularly bothered by it."
Another Dream fan attending with his family said he respected the anthem and the players’ ability to decide whether to participate.
"But we live in a country where you have a choice, so I gotta respect it," he said.
Players and coaches say skipping anthem is a pregame routine
During media availability in Atlanta on Oct. 23, Golden State coach Natalie Nakase described the absences as part of the team’s pregame routine.
Those interviews were OutKick’s first opportunity to ask the anthem questions directly after attending all 13 formal press conferences during the first three games without being called on.
"We’re two years in," Nakase said. "That’s been part of our pregame."
Asked who established the routine and why, she said, "I really don’t know."
OutKick followed up: "What do you do during those 90 seconds that you’re off the court?"
"I’m with my staff, so I’m focused on my plays," Nakase said.
Golden State’s public relations staff then moved to the next reporter. OutKick did not get an opportunity to ask why those preparations needed to happen during the anthem rather than before or afterward.
Valkyries forward Gabby Williams denied that the team’s absence was a protest.
"No," she said.
Asked why the team was off the floor, Williams responded: "That’s been the routine for like, seven years now."
An Atlanta public relations representative moved to the next question after Dream coach Karl Smesko declined to explain his team’s absences.
"We’re just kind of focused on the Finals," Smesko said.
Asked whether he had any further comment about the anthem and his team’s absences, he said, "No."
Dream guard Rhyne Howard was asked about calls to exclude players from Team USA over their anthem conduct during the WNBA season.
Howard said she did not think she had been on the court for the anthem at any point during her tenure in Atlanta. She also defended her commitment to representing the United States internationally.
"When I go put on USA jersey I’m out for the national anthem every time, there’s no doubt about it," Howard said.
OutKick asked Howard why she was not on the court for the anthem with the Dream.
Howard and an Atlanta public relations representative both responded, "Next question."
WNBA policy and team decisions remain questions
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The WNBA’s 2026 official rulebook says players, coaches and trainers are to "stand and line up in a dignified posture" along the sidelines or on the foul line during the national anthem.
The Associated Press reported Oct. 20 that the league suspended its anthem protocols in 2017. The provision remains in the 2026 rulebook.
OutKick has asked the WNBA to clarify its current requirements and enforcement, whether discipline is planned or under consideration, and whether teams have received instructions about being on the floor.
The inquiries to the WNBA and both teams began after Game 1 on Oct. 17, with follow-ups Oct. 18 and Oct. 20. OutKick also contacted the NBA league office on Oct. 20 about its role in the matter.
OutKick has also asked Atlanta to confirm an arena employee’s account that Dream players stand in a hallway after leaving the floor before games, including whether they remain there during the anthem.
During Game 4, I attempted to observe what Atlanta’s players do after leaving the court. Arena staff said my credential did not grant access to that area and escorted me to my assigned media seat.
The WNBA, NBA and both teams’ front offices have not responded to OutKick’s emailed requests for comment about the anthem absences. The player and coach responses came during media availability.
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Six games into the Finals, fans disagree about whether the players should be on the court for the anthem. The teams still haven’t explained why their preparations require leaving it.

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- BOBBY BURACK: Here is who could replace Ernie Johnson as the next host of 'Inside the NBA'
BOBBY BURACK: Here is who could replace Ernie Johnson as the next host of 'Inside the NBA'
Ernie Johnson will retire as host of "Inside the NBA" after the season, the Sports Broadcasting Hall of Famer announced in a social media video on Wednesday.
Johnson, 70, will continue covering the NCAA men’s basketball tournament for CBS and Turner Sports.
The announcement generated two separate discussions across the industry. One about Johnson’s legacy. The other concerns the obvious. His departure creates an opening on one of the most prestigious and popular shows in sports media.
Speaking to sources Wednesday, no one was confident in who would succeed Johnson just yet. For one, "Inside the NBA" remains a TNT production, despite moving to ESPN airwaves last season. Skydance Corporation, which owns TNT and CBS, controls the show. ESPN does not.
That said, ESPN will likely influence the decision. Malika Andrews, ESPN’s current NBA host, is a plausible candidate.
Andrews hosted the network’s NBA Finals coverage before the deal with "Inside the NBA." She currently hosts ESPN’s daily basketball show, "NBA Today," and its pregame show, "NBA Countdown."
The question is whether Andrews can preserve the show’s signature off-the-cuff identity. She has struggled in the past when covering topics involving serious issues.
She previously teared up on set while discussing the Supreme Court’s decision to return abortion laws to the states and falsely claimed that the Constitution prohibits doing so. It does not. Andrews also made false claims about Kyle Rittenhouse carrying weapons across state lines. Not ideal.
Adam Lefkoe is the other candidate frequently mentioned by sources. Lefkoe is a TNT employee who previously hosted a Tuesday edition of "Inside the NBA" and has filled in for Johnson in recent years. He also has a rapport with Shaquille O’Neal, who will remain an analyst on the show. Lefkoe and O’Neal co-host "The Big Podcast."
After Lefkoe and Andrews, opinions were mixed regarding other candidates. Qualified NBA hosts are not simply waiting for an opportunity.
Most of ESPN’s top hosts are occupied elsewhere. Mike Greenberg and Scott Van Pelt host NFL pregame shows. Rece Davis hosts both the football and basketball editions of "GameDay."
Laura Rutledge works across the NFL and college football and should be in line to succeed Van Pelt in the coming years. Each would be a quality replacement for Johnson, but for one reason or another, they may not want the job.
Another potential factor is Charles Barkley.
Barkley has said this will also be his final season on the show. However, he has made that claim many times before, only to return the following year. Barkley’s departure could dramatically change the show’s style.
Former ESPN commentator Jalen Rose is reportedly his likely replacement, as disappointing as that may be.
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Bluntly put, the options to replace Ernie Johnson are not ideal. It is therefore fair to question how promising the future of "Inside the NBA" is.

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- Valkyries player's dad puts WNBA on blast over unusual Finals start: 'It's the league's fault'
Valkyries player's dad puts WNBA on blast over unusual Finals start: 'It's the league's fault'
The father of Golden State Valkyries star Tiffany Hayes wasn't shy about blaming the WNBA for playing a potential championship-clinching game at 12:30 p.m. on a Thursday.
"I think it’s the league’s fault," Renard Hayes told OutKick outside State Farm Arena before Game 6 between his daughter’s Golden State Valkyries and the Atlanta Dream.
"It’s the league’s fault. And pretty much the Atlanta organization."
He wasn’t alone in questioning the arrangement. Fans outside the arena described taking time off work, pulling children out of school and traveling hours to attend a game originally scheduled for 8 p.m.
The WNBA moved Game 6 to the afternoon to accommodate a doubleheader at State Farm Arena, where the NBA’s Atlanta Hawks were scheduled to host the Cleveland Cavaliers that night. Golden State entered Thursday with a 3-2 series lead and a chance to win its first championship.
Hayes, who said he lives in Florida, could make the early start work, but he expressed concern for the people who couldn’t.
"It’s kind of a shame about how they couldn’t handle the situation better or couldn’t be more prepared," he said.
DREAM OWNERSHIP GROUP VOICES FRUSTRATION IN OPEN LETTER OVER WNBA FINALS VENUE CONCERNS
For Golden State fans watching in California, the game’s start time was 9:30 a.m.
"Probably have to take a break off work, take the day off or whatever like that," Hayes said. "But for me, I’m good with it. I’m okay with it."
He pointed to Golden State’s experience relocating a playoff game to San Jose last season as an example of having an alternative ready. He also questioned whether the Dream’s roughly 3,500-seat regular home, Gateway Center Arena, could have accommodated the demand for a Finals game.
Moving to State Farm Arena created room for more fans, but moving the start time created another obstacle to getting them there.
"We came from four hours away, so we’re not too thrilled. But we’re here," one Dream fan told OutKick, adding that the child accompanying her was out of school for the game.
Another Atlanta fan said she had been able to get off work, but recognized that others wouldn’t have that flexibility.
"For all of the other Dream fans, it’s not ideal," she said. "We would have rather played at nighttime."
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Another fan declined to appear on camera, telling OutKick she had called out sick and didn’t want her boss to see her at the game.
A father attending with his wife and two children offered a clarification after his interview: "We’re responsible parents, we swear!"
He said the children had attended school for two hours before leaving and completed all their work.
Several fans questioned why the NBA’s regular-season game received the evening slot while the WNBA’s potential championship clincher was played during the workday.
"We should have been prime time," one Dream fan said.
The father who brought his family called the arrangement "kind of disrespectful to the Dream," pointing out that the Hawks were only beginning their season.
The Hawks agreed to move their game to 8 p.m. to accommodate the doubleheader. But fans who spoke with OutKick argued that the Finals should have received priority.
One Valkyries supporter said the women deserved more respect and should have gotten the prime-time slot. Still, he welcomed the opportunity to play in a much larger arena.
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"It’s awesome that it’s being played at State Farm Arena rather than a 3,500-seat arena," he said. "So with that being in mind, I think that’s a win regardless."
Not everyone objected to the early start.
One Dream fan said she was fine with it and encouraged people who couldn’t attend to support the team wherever they were. A Valkyries fan who had arrived from San Francisco at 6 a.m. dismissed the suggestion that she might be tired.
"No. We’re ready," she said.
The league announced the scheduling change Monday, three days before Game 6, with tickets going on sale that afternoon.
Commissioner Cathy Engelbert praised the sellout crowds at State Farm Arena for Games 3 and 4 and emphasized the opportunity to accommodate thousands more fans. The league also announced plans for a coordinated promotional push with its broadcast partners to build awareness of the new start time.
OutKick asked the WNBA why it chose the afternoon start, what alternatives it considered and whether it was concerned about the potential impact on viewership. The league has not responded.
USA Sports, which is airing the game on USA Network, acknowledged that the afternoon start wasn’t ideal for attracting a television audience.
"The daytime window isn’t perfect from a TV audience perspective, but the league had to make a really difficult decision taking a lot into account across multiple stakeholders," a USA Sports spokesperson told OutKick in a statement.
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"What was important to us was to ultimately be a good partner and to be part of the solution here."
The fans outside State Farm Arena found ways to make Thursday work. Some took time off, and others brought children who otherwise would have been in school.
Hayes was happy to be there for his daughter, but that didn’t mean he thought the league had handled the situation well.

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Curry anota 44 pontos, lidera Warriors e iguala recorde de LeBron
Yaxel Lendeborg contribuiu com 26 pontos para o Golden State, que conquistou a segunda vitória consecutiva após começar a temporada com três derrotas. Brandon Williams também teve participação importante, com 11 pontos saindo do banco de reservas.
Pelo lado do Minnesota, Jonathan Kuminga anotou 20 pontos contra sua ex-equipe e foi o cestinha dos Timberwolves. Jaden McDaniels e Terrence Shannon Jr. marcaram 19 pontos cada, enquanto Ayo Dosunmu terminou com 17.
Curry lidera vitória dos Warriors sobre os Timberwolves
O Minnesota entrou em quadra sem seu principal pontuador, Anthony Edwards, pela primeira vez desde que a equipe anunciou que o jogador passaria por um procedimento no joelho direito. A previsão é que o astro fique afastado das quadras por aproximadamente dois meses.
Mesmo com a ausência de Edwards, os Timberwolves superaram os Warriors por 66 a 55 no segundo tempo e chegaram perto de uma virada. Nos segundos finais, Bones Hyland acertou um arremesso com auxílio da tabela e reduziu a diferença para três pontos.
Curry, porém, garantiu o resultado para o Golden State ao converter dois lances livres e fechar a pontuação da partida.
Os Warriors terminaram o terceiro quarto com vantagem de 93 a 81, após chegarem a abrir 24 pontos de diferença na segunda metade do jogo. Em uma jogada de três pontos, Curry ampliou a vantagem para 78 a 54.
Timberwolves reagem, mas não evitam segunda derrota seguida
O Minnesota iniciou uma reação ainda no terceiro período, quando conseguiu uma sequência de 27 a 15 para diminuir a desvantagem para 12 pontos. Hyland saiu do banco e converteu duas bolas de três pontos, ajudando a equipe a se aproximar no placar.
O Golden State, entretanto, manteve o controle da partida durante boa parte do confronto. No intervalo, os Warriors venciam por 64 a 48.
A equipe visitante fechou o primeiro quarto com uma sequência de 21 a 9, assumindo a liderança por 30 a 23. De’Anthony Melton converteu duas bolas de três pontos durante o período, enquanto Lendeborg contribuiu com uma bandeja em infiltração e outro arremesso de longa distância.
No segundo quarto, uma nova bandeja de Lendeborg colocou os Warriors pela primeira vez com uma vantagem de dois dígitos: 48 a 38, restando 6min29s para o intervalo.
Nos minutos finais da primeira metade, o Golden State marcou sete dos últimos nove pontos e foi para o vestiário vencendo por 16 pontos. Lendeborg acertou uma bola de três, enquanto Will Richard e Curry converteram dois lances livres cada.
Com o resultado, os Warriors chegaram à segunda vitória consecutiva na temporada, enquanto os Timberwolves sofreram a segunda derrota seguida após iniciarem a campanha com três triunfos.
“Somos mal remunerados”: Stephen Curry desabafa sobre salários na NBA
- The Hollywood Reporter
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