
 
 Megan Rapinoe, front, fends off Washington’s Alyssa Kleiner in the second half at Maryland SoccerPlex. (Katherine Frey/The Washington Post) 
 
 U.S. soccer star Megan Rapinoe never got a chance to kneel during the national anthem Wednesday at Maryland SoccerPlex. 
 
 In a preemptive move, the owner of the Washington Spirit, Air Force veteran Bill Lynch, ordered “The Star-Spangled Banner” to be played while the teams were in the locker room. 
 
 The Spirit took the action, the National Women’s Soccer League club said, “rather than subject our fans and friends to the disrespect we feel such an act would represent.” 
 
 [Rapinoe responds after the game: ‘It’s [expletive] unbelievable. Saddened by it.’] 
 
 Typically, the players warm up for an extended period, return to the locker room for final instructions, then take the field for introductions and the anthem. In this case, moments after the Spirit and Seattle Reign players finished warm-ups and retreated indoors, fans were asked to stand and observe the anthem. 
 
 Rapinoe first knelt for the anthem Sunday during the Reign’s game at Chicago against the Red Stars, saying she did it as a nod to San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick. Kaepernick created a national stir late last month when he refused to stand for the anthem during a preseason game. 
 
 [Colin Kaepernick plans to put money from his top-selling jersey to good use] 
 
 Players on both teams arrived at the SoccerPlex unaware of plans for the early playing of the anthem. Spirit Coach Jim Gabarra told his players in the locker room just before the anthem started. Rapinoe, who had entered as a substitute in the previous two matches, was not in Seattle’s starting lineup and came on in the second half. 
 
 In a match twice delayed by lightning, the first-place Spirit (12-3-3) won, 2-1, to clinch home-field advantage in the league semifinals, Sept. 30 or Oct. 1. Crystal Dunn, Rapinoe’s U.S. Olympic teammate, scored a sensational goal from 22 yards just before halftime and Cheyna Williams put away a rebound in the 61st minute. Kim Little converted a penalty kick in the 71st for the Reign (6-6-6). 
 
 [More on the match, plus video of Dunn’s goal] 
 
 The Spirit said it did not want Rapinoe to detract from the final regular season home game, which, combined with other results in the league, could’ve clinched first place for Washington with two matches remaining. 
 
 “We understand this may be seen as an extraordinary step, but believe it was the best option to avoid taking focus away from the game on such an important night for our franchise,” the Spirit said in a statement. “While we respect every individual’s right to express themselves, and believe Ms. Rapinoe to be an amazing individual with a huge heart; we respectfully disagree with her method of hijacking our organization’s event to draw attention to what is ultimately a personal — albeit worthy — cause.” 
 
 Kaepernick’s stance has continued to generate headlines. The NFL.com’s Steve Wyche was the first to notice Kaepernick sitting during the anthem before the 49ers Aug. 27 game against Green Bay. “I am not going to stand up to show pride in a flag for a country that oppresses black people and people of color,” Kaepernick said afterward. “To me, this is bigger than football and it would be selfish on my part to look the other way. There are bodies in the street and people getting paid leave and getting away with murder.” 
 
 Kaepernick has continued to sit for the anthem since, and Rapinoe is part of a handful of athletes to follow his lead. The Spirit, however, was able to sidestep any controversy with its move Wednesday night. 
 
 “As a veteran owned team, the national anthem holds an exceptionally special meaning for this organization,” the team’s statement continued. “Our owner Bill Lynch has lost personal friends during overseas conflicts and has other close friends who have also lost loved ones. Playing the national anthem prior to sports events became standard during World War II and was a way to express the team’s and fan’s patriotism and show support for the U.S. Military. The tradition of honoring our military and our patriotism before our games is very important to us. We strongly feel that there are better ways to begin a conversation about a cause than tarnishing a tradition that is so important to so many.” 
 
 “To willingly allow anyone to hijack this tradition that means so much to millions of Americans and so many of our own fans for any cause would effectively be just as disrespectful as doing it ourselves. Professional athletes have incredible numbers of followers, to which we believe they have the ability to articulate a conversation with objectives and plans and begin a serious conversation directly, or through traditional media appearances, without insulting our military and our fans. 
 
 “We do regret that this decision has denied the players who had no intention of taking a knee their own opportunity to honor our great country from the field. This is an issue we are communicating to and with them about personally.” 
 
 NWSL Commissioner Jeff Plush attended Wednesday’s match and, after the anthem played, said he was unaware of the Spirit’s plans. 
 
 “I would have preferred to have had an honest dialogue of what we wanted to do, what their goals were, and then work through it,” he said. “I don’t suggest I have all the answers, but it’s better to talk about it. I’m disappointed.” 
 
 On the broader topic, he said: “It’s an emotional issue. I’m trying to be aware of that and respectful of different points of view. It’s a challenging issue and a challenging time. We’ve got some issues we need to work through as a country. … The issue brought forth by Colin and then Megan is a real issue. We need to have serious conversations about it. I don’t know whether it belongs on the playing surface. It’s bigger than us.” 
 
 In recent days, Lynch shared his feelings about the anthem controversy with his players, saying he would be disappointed if any of them followed Rapinoe’s lead. He did not threaten to fine or suspend anyone who did kneel. 
 
 The Spirit and Reign will meet again Sunday in Seattle. 
 
 In a statement released earlier Wednesday, Reign management said: “We will continue to encourage all Reign players to participate in the pre-match ceremony, which honors those who have served and made sacrifices on our behalf. We will also continue to allow players to participate in the pre-match ceremony in a manner consistent with their personal beliefs, reflecting our respect for the rights earned and defended by those fighting for our nation.” ||||| Tweet with a location 
 
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 Police officers at Maryland SoccerPlex were assigned to Seattle Reign star Megan Rapinoe, whose decision to kneel during the national anthem has stirred controversy. (Katherine Frey/The Washington Post) 
 
 Following the Seattle Reign’s 2-1 defeat to the Washington Spirit on Wednesday, Megan Rapinoe responded to the Spirit’s decision to play the national anthem while the teams were in the locker room. The unannounced scheduling change preventing her from kneeling during “The Star-Spangled Banner,” an act she first exhibited Sunday in Chicago to show solidarity with San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick. 
 
 [Spirit doesn’t give Rapinoe chance to kneel in protest during national anthem] 
 
 What was your reaction to the early anthem? 
 
 “I didn’t hear it and I wasn’t exactly sure why it wasn’t played. It’s [expletive] unbelievable. Saddened by it. It’s pretty clear what the message is I am trying to bring to light in Chicago and what I continue to try to talk about the last few days. Clearly with [Spirit owner Bill Lynch’s] actions, it’s a necessary conversation. It was incredibly distasteful, four days before one of the worst tragedies in our country, to say that I tried to hijack this event. … It’s just really disappointing and disrespectful. We want to talk about disrespect, and me disrespecting, he didn’t even give both teams a chance to even stand in front of it and show their respects. It’s unbelievable. It’s truly an unbelievable act to me.” 
 
 Teammates’ reaction to your efforts? 
 
 “I think they were going to show their support in some way. I don’t know if any of them were going to kneel or not, but many of my teammates have had conversations with me and just said they wanted to show support in some way.” 
 
 [Spirit clinches home-field advantage in playoffs with 2-1 victory over Reign] 
 
 What have the last few days been like and have you been able to talk to Kaepernick? 
 
 “I have not been able to connect with Colin, but I have talked to a few other activists leading the charge. It’s been good, and good in the sense of I’m having conversations with myself all day long and conversations with other people, and learning more and becoming more educated. Ultimately, the conversation is going in a positive way. Even the conversations I have with my family. You start to melt away some of those barriers and actually have the real conversation, which is most meaningful. Overall, the response has been good. Obviously there is some negative going on, but I am not rolling through the trolls. Keep it positive.” 
 
 Did you anticipate anything like this happening? 
 
 “No. Certainly not. Unbelievable.” 
 
 You had a couple of police officers at your side. Were you threatened? 
 
 “I haven’t personally. I am not reading all of my tweets. I know the club has received some emails. They’re handling that and keeping me insulated a little bit. It’s just an extra precaution.” 
 
 How do you feel about having to need extra security? 
 
 “It shows me we really need to talk about the conversation I want to talk about. It’s case in point right there.” 
 
 Has this affected you? 
 
 “To say I am not mentally tired in ways and exhausted in ways would be a lie. It’s been draining. It’s been draining on everyone. I am aware it’s not just me going through this; it’s my whole team, my whole club, my whole family, and the other players in the league as well. I know it’s created a stir, but sometimes that’s necessary.” 
 
 You will play the Spirit again in four days in Seattle. What are you expecting? 
 
 “Our game is on September 11th and we are planning a ceremony with five veterans. We’ve been in contact with them, especially since Sunday night. We are having a conversation with them and we are bringing them in and I am going to meet with them before. So giving them the utmost respect is paramount for me and for the club. I plan to continue to take a knee during the national anthem, when everyone can prepare for that. Then we won’t be surprised by anything crazy. I don’t anticipate it having this huge effect [this weekend]. I hope the conversation continues and I hope I still get questions about it — maybe a couple about that and some about the game. The Spirit doesn’t deserve [this], [having advanced to] the playoffs and clinch home-field advantage, and we haven’t talked about them once” during the interview session. 
 
 Have you been in contact with the U.S. Soccer Federation and do you plan to kneel at national team games? 
 
 “I’ve been in touch with U.S. Soccer, with the media relations there. Just talking through my process and an on-going process daily with my agent, U.S. Soccer and everyone involved. As of now, I do plan [to kneel]. It’s an ever-evolving process. I know it means something a little bit different when I am wearing the U.S. shirt, but I still plan to do it. … I take playing for my country very seriously. It’s a huge honor. I hope we can flush this out and the outrage can die down and we can have a meaningful conversation.” 
 
 What is the message you want to get out? 
 
 “We need to have an open conversation about race relations in this country and what that means to both sides. The conversation gets so mixed up: What are we actually talking about? We’re talking about Americans that have to deal with oppression and racism and poverty — and the intersection of all of that. Being a woman, we talk about equal pay all the time. We’re not talking about if you’re black or if you are Latina. I would like to get back to that, and improving the relationship between the police community and the community of color. I don’t know exactly all the right things to say, but I want to engage in that conversation. In part, I went into this knowing I don’t have all of the answers. I’ve opened myself up and been a little bit exposed because I don’t know everything. And there is no way I can. But I want to. I think there are a lot of people out there who want to and don’t know how. That’s a difficult thing if you live in a predominantly white community and don’t have a lot experience in that, but this can help open up the conversation a little bit more.” 
 
 Reign Coach Laura Harvey also addressed the issue. 
 
 Did it cause a distraction? 
 
 “I don’t think it impacted the game. We were told just before we left the locker room that the anthem had already been played. I let Megan know that. We had a very brief reaction to that. We were trying to be very focused on what we were trying to do. I just felt there was a strange atmosphere at the start of the game because most people thought it would’ve been played and we are walking out not really knowing why.” 
 
 Are you disappointed how the anthem issue was handled? 
 
 “Disappointed in the sense that we’ve tried to do everything we can to prepare for every eventuality leading up to today. To not be notified prior is disappointing.” 
 
 The Spirit owner said he didn’t want Megan hijacking the event, but now the anthem is the topic of discussion after the game. 
 
 “The last thing we’re speaking about is the game. It wouldn’t have been that if the anthem had been played and it wouldn’t have been that if stuff hadn’t been out public. That in itself shows that maybe the decision had an adverse effect.” 
 
 Through a team spokeswoman, Spirit players said they did not want to discuss the anthem issue. 
 
 NWSL Commissioner Jeff Plush attended the match and said he did not know the Spirit had planned to play the anthem while the teams were inside. He answered a few questions while watching the first half. 
 
 “I was on a phone call inside and heard the music, so I rushed out to see if the players were out there.” 
 
 Reaction? 
 
 “It’s an emotional issue. I’m trying to be aware of that and respectful of different points of view. It’s a challenging issue and a challenging time. We’ve got some issues we need to work through as a country. I don’t know how to do it.” 
 
 Violation of league protocol? 
 
 “I would have preferred to have had an honest dialogue of what we wanted to do, what their goals were, and then work through it. I don’t suggest I have all the answers, but it’s better to talk about it. I’m disappointed.” 
 
 Will the league sanction the organization in some way? 
 
 “I haven’t thought about that piece of it yet. It is secondary. What’s important right here is a playoff-implication match. But the issue brought forth by Colin and then Megan is a real issue. We need to have serious conversations about it. I don’t know whether it belongs on the playing surface. It’s bigger than us.” 
 
 Did you approach Spirit owner Bill Lynch before kickoff? 
 
 “I haven’t talked to Bill yet. I wanted to take a deep breath. I saw their press release. I get it. I’m trying to be respectful to two really opposite points of view.” ||||| 
 
 Police officers at Maryland SoccerPlex were assigned to Seattle Reign star Megan Rapinoe, whose decision to kneel during the national anthem has stirred controversy. (Katherine Frey/The Washington Post) 
 
 Following the Seattle Reign’s 2-1 defeat to the Washington Spirit on Wednesday, Megan Rapinoe responded to the Spirit’s decision to play the national anthem while the teams were in the locker room. The unannounced scheduling change preventing her from kneeling during “The Star-Spangled Banner,” an act she first exhibited Sunday in Chicago to show solidarity with San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick. 
 
 [Spirit doesn’t give Rapinoe chance to kneel in protest during national anthem] 
 
 What was your reaction to the early anthem? 
 
 “I didn’t hear it and I wasn’t exactly sure why it wasn’t played. It’s [expletive] unbelievable. Saddened by it. It’s pretty clear what the message is I am trying to bring to light in Chicago and what I continue to try to talk about the last few days. Clearly with [Spirit owner Bill Lynch’s] actions, it’s a necessary conversation. It was incredibly distasteful, four days before one of the worst tragedies in our country, to say that I tried to hijack this event. … It’s just really disappointing and disrespectful. We want to talk about disrespect, and me disrespecting, he didn’t even give both teams a chance to even stand in front of it and show their respects. It’s unbelievable. It’s truly an unbelievable act to me.” 
 
 Teammates’ reaction to your efforts? 
 
 “I think they were going to show their support in some way. I don’t know if any of them were going to kneel or not, but many of my teammates have had conversations with me and just said they wanted to show support in some way.” 
 
 [Spirit clinches home-field advantage in playoffs with 2-1 victory over Reign] 
 
 What have the last few days been like and have you been able to talk to Kaepernick? 
 
 “I have not been able to connect with Colin, but I have talked to a few other activists leading the charge. It’s been good, and good in the sense of I’m having conversations with myself all day long and conversations with other people, and learning more and becoming more educated. Ultimately, the conversation is going in a positive way. Even the conversations I have with my family. You start to melt away some of those barriers and actually have the real conversation, which is most meaningful. Overall, the response has been good. Obviously there is some negative going on, but I am not rolling through the trolls. Keep it positive.” 
 
 Did you anticipate anything like this happening? 
 
 “No. Certainly not. Unbelievable.” 
 
 You had a couple of police officers at your side. Were you threatened? 
 
 “I haven’t personally. I am not reading all of my tweets. I know the club has received some emails. They’re handling that and keeping me insulated a little bit. It’s just an extra precaution.” 
 
 How do you feel about having to need extra security? 
 
 “It shows me we really need to talk about the conversation I want to talk about. It’s case in point right there.” 
 
 Has this affected you? 
 
 “To say I am not mentally tired in ways and exhausted in ways would be a lie. It’s been draining. It’s been draining on everyone. I am aware it’s not just me going through this; it’s my whole team, my whole club, my whole family, and the other players in the league as well. I know it’s created a stir, but sometimes that’s necessary.” 
 
 You will play the Spirit again in four days in Seattle. What are you expecting? 
 
 “Our game is on September 11th and we are planning a ceremony with five veterans. We’ve been in contact with them, especially since Sunday night. We are having a conversation with them and we are bringing them in and I am going to meet with them before. So giving them the utmost respect is paramount for me and for the club. I plan to continue to take a knee during the national anthem, when everyone can prepare for that. Then we won’t be surprised by anything crazy. I don’t anticipate it having this huge effect [this weekend]. I hope the conversation continues and I hope I still get questions about it — maybe a couple about that and some about the game. The Spirit doesn’t deserve [this], [having advanced to] the playoffs and clinch home-field advantage, and we haven’t talked about them once” during the interview session. 
 
 Have you been in contact with the U.S. Soccer Federation and do you plan to kneel at national team games? 
 
 “I’ve been in touch with U.S. Soccer, with the media relations there. Just talking through my process and an on-going process daily with my agent, U.S. Soccer and everyone involved. As of now, I do plan [to kneel]. It’s an ever-evolving process. I know it means something a little bit different when I am wearing the U.S. shirt, but I still plan to do it. … I take playing for my country very seriously. It’s a huge honor. I hope we can flush this out and the outrage can die down and we can have a meaningful conversation.” 
 
 What is the message you want to get out? 
 
 “We need to have an open conversation about race relations in this country and what that means to both sides. The conversation gets so mixed up: What are we actually talking about? We’re talking about Americans that have to deal with oppression and racism and poverty — and the intersection of all of that. Being a woman, we talk about equal pay all the time. We’re not talking about if you’re black or if you are Latina. I would like to get back to that, and improving the relationship between the police community and the community of color. I don’t know exactly all the right things to say, but I want to engage in that conversation. In part, I went into this knowing I don’t have all of the answers. I’ve opened myself up and been a little bit exposed because I don’t know everything. And there is no way I can. But I want to. I think there are a lot of people out there who want to and don’t know how. That’s a difficult thing if you live in a predominantly white community and don’t have a lot experience in that, but this can help open up the conversation a little bit more.” 
 
 Reign Coach Laura Harvey also addressed the issue. 
 
 Did it cause a distraction? 
 
 “I don’t think it impacted the game. We were told just before we left the locker room that the anthem had already been played. I let Megan know that. We had a very brief reaction to that. We were trying to be very focused on what we were trying to do. I just felt there was a strange atmosphere at the start of the game because most people thought it would’ve been played and we are walking out not really knowing why.” 
 
 Are you disappointed how the anthem issue was handled? 
 
 “Disappointed in the sense that we’ve tried to do everything we can to prepare for every eventuality leading up to today. To not be notified prior is disappointing.” 
 
 The Spirit owner said he didn’t want Megan hijacking the event, but now the anthem is the topic of discussion after the game. 
 
 “The last thing we’re speaking about is the game. It wouldn’t have been that if the anthem had been played and it wouldn’t have been that if stuff hadn’t been out public. That in itself shows that maybe the decision had an adverse effect.” 
 
 Through a team spokeswoman, Spirit players said they did not want to discuss the anthem issue. 
 
 NWSL Commissioner Jeff Plush attended the match and said he did not know the Spirit had planned to play the anthem while the teams were inside. He answered a few questions while watching the first half. 
 
 “I was on a phone call inside and heard the music, so I rushed out to see if the players were out there.” 
 
 Reaction? 
 
 “It’s an emotional issue. I’m trying to be aware of that and respectful of different points of view. It’s a challenging issue and a challenging time. We’ve got some issues we need to work through as a country. I don’t know how to do it.” 
 
 Violation of league protocol? 
 
 “I would have preferred to have had an honest dialogue of what we wanted to do, what their goals were, and then work through it. I don’t suggest I have all the answers, but it’s better to talk about it. I’m disappointed.” 
 
 Will the league sanction the organization in some way? 
 
 “I haven’t thought about that piece of it yet. It is secondary. What’s important right here is a playoff-implication match. But the issue brought forth by Colin and then Megan is a real issue. We need to have serious conversations about it. I don’t know whether it belongs on the playing surface. It’s bigger than us.” 
 
 Did you approach Spirit owner Bill Lynch before kickoff? 
 
 “I haven’t talked to Bill yet. I wanted to take a deep breath. I saw their press release. I get it. I’m trying to be respectful to two really opposite points of view.”
– If Megan Rapinoe had planned to take a knee during the national anthem in her Wednesday night game against the Washington Spirit, the owner of that women's soccer team effectively squelched that plan. Per the Washington Post, Spirit owner Bill Lynch, an Air Force veteran, made sure the anthem was played at Maryland SoccerPlex only after his team and Rapinoe's Seattle Reign FC headed to the locker room after warmups, a preemptive strike against Rapinoe's anticipated repeat of her protest at a Sunday night game (a show of support for the 49ers' QB Colin Kaepernick). "We understand this may be seen as an extraordinary step, but believe it was the best option to avoid taking focus away from the game on such an important night for our franchise," the Spirit said in a statement, referencing its last regular-season home game that could help earn it a first-place slot. The statement went on to say that although Rapinoe is "an amazing individual with a huge heart," the Spirit didn't want her "hijacking" the game for her "personal—albeit worthy—cause," nor to "subject our fans and friends to the disrespect we feel such an act would represent." Rapinoe, for her part, said after the game she was "saddened" by the song subterfuge and called it "f---ing unbelievable" and "incredibly distasteful, four days before [the anniversary of] one of the worst tragedies in our country, to say I tried to hijack this event." One other person not aware in advance of the Spirit's plans, per the Post: National Women's Soccer League Commissioner Jeff Plush, who says he was "disappointed" by Lynch's move. Meanwhile, Rapinoe's team issued its own statement that said it will "continue to encourage" its players to take part in any pre-game ceremonies, but that they're free to do so "in a manner consistent with their personal beliefs." (More Rapinoe reaction in the Post.)