“Sports Should Not Be Political”: Yankees President Sparks Debate With Blunt Take Amid the WNBA Anthem Protest

The New York Yankees president, Randy Levine, is the latest voice to join in the debate around the uneasy relationship between sports and politics. The 2026 WNBA Finals have become the latest flashpoint, with Atlanta Dream and Golden State Valkyries players drawing national attention for leaving the court before the national anthem. Even President Donald Trump and Vice President J.D. Vance have weighed in, turning the players’ actions into a nationwide controversy. Now, Levine’s message carries a blunt reminder about the business of sports.