U.S. women’s national team players to stop kneeling during the anthem: ‘We are doing the work behind the scenes’
U.S. Women’s National Team Shifts Focus from Kneeling to Action on Racial Justice
Photo: Alex Menendez / Getty Images
Carli Lloyd, Lindsey Horan, and Julie Ertz of the U.S. Women’s National Team stand during the national anthem at the SheBelieves Cup against Canada in Orlando, Florida, on February 18, 2021.
After nearly a year of kneeling during the national anthem to protest systemic racism, the players of the U.S. women’s national soccer team have decided to shift their focus to working behind the scenes to promote racial equity.
During their SheBelieves Cup match against Brazil in Florida last weekend, the entire team stood for the anthem—a departure from past matches when several players had chosen to kneel.
Defender Crystal Dunn explained the team’s decision:
“I think those of us who were kneeling did so to draw attention to police brutality and systemic racism. We’ve now decided that we don’t feel the need to kneel anymore because we’re continuing the fight off the field. We never planned to kneel forever—we’re doing the work behind the scenes to combat racism.”
The movement within the team traces back to 2016 when midfielder Megan Rapinoe first took a knee during the anthem at national team matches to stand in solidarity with former NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick, who protested racial injustice and police violence by kneeling before games.
Rapinoe’s actions sparked backlash, and U.S. Soccer implemented a rule requiring players to stand. However, public sentiment shifted following the 2020 murder of George Floyd by a white Minneapolis police officer. The resulting global protests prompted U.S. Soccer to rescind the rule, and federation president Cindy Parlow Cone publicly apologized.
Players across the sports world began kneeling in protest, and U.S. women’s national team members followed suit. Now, as they stand once again during the anthem, their focus has turned to lasting change.
Among those leading efforts is defender Midge Purce, a founding member of the Black Women’s Player Collective. The group, made up of 43 Black players in the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL), aims to amplify the voices and representation of Black women in the sport.
This week, the collective launched a fundraising campaign to offer free soccer clinics across the country and help children attend NWSL games. They exceeded their $20,000 goal within a day.
Defender Tierna Davidson spoke about the team’s internal discussions:
“These conversations aren’t easy. As white players, we want to uplift our Black teammates without placing all the responsibility on them. It’s something we’ve grappled with as a group.”
Davidson said the players continue to collaborate with the Black Women’s Player Collective and the NWSL to push for systemic change within their communities.
Adding to these efforts, Angel City FC—set to join the NWSL in 2022—has partnered with Common Goal to launch the Anti-Racists Project. The initiative aims to tackle racism in soccer through education and community outreach. Other partners include MLS club Chicago Fire, U.S. men’s national team goalkeeper Zack Steffen, the Sanneh Foundation, Oakland Roots SC, and the American Outlaws supporters’ group.
“There was always going to be a moment when we felt it was time to stand again,” said Dunn. “We’re proud of the work we’re doing off the field. This was a game where we felt ready to move into the next phase of our fight for change.”
