[81alum]

It's never made much sense to me to play the anthem for anything other than a match between national teams. 

I agree. 
I grew up in Brazil. Games between Brazilian teams were not preceded by a national anthem. But games between national teams were preceded by national anthems, and you knew this was a special game involving your country's team and your pulse quickened. That was a long time ago and my memory is not clear on matches between club teams from two different countries, but my recollection is that there were no national anthems either.

Last year for the first time, the WBB team exited the floor each time the national anthem was played, leaving our coaches and the opposing teams to face the flag with hands over hearts. (I am not sure what they did at away games.)  I have wondered if this was in lieu of a more overt protest such as taking a knee--whether this was a compromise of some sort.  But perhaps a decision was made that our players should be doing something else in the pre-game routines during that minute--pure speculation on my part.  Our players ran back onto the floor when the anthem is over.  It made for an unusual visual with the opposing teams lined up across our floor and our team absent.  I'd certainly be interested if anyone has an explanation.  And I wonder how anthem-protests are handled on our other teams.  Do any of our football players take a knee?  Other sports?

[81alum]

It's never made much sense to me to play the anthem for anything other than a match between national teams. 

I agree. 
I grew up in Brazil. Games between Brazilian teams were not preceded by a national anthem. But games between national teams were preceded by national anthems, and you knew this was a special game involving your country's team and your pulse quickened. That was a long time ago and my memory is not clear on matches between club teams from two different countries, but my recollection is that there were no national anthems either.

Last year for the first time, the WBB team exited the floor each time the national anthem was played, leaving our coaches and the opposing teams to face the flag with hands over hearts. (I am not sure what they did at away games.)  I have wondered if this was in lieu of a more overt protest such as taking a knee--whether this was a compromise of some sort.  But perhaps a decision was made that our players should be doing something else in the pre-game routines during that minute--pure speculation on my part.  Our players ran back onto the floor when the anthem is over.  It made for an unusual visual with the opposing teams lined up across our floor and our team absent.  I'd certainly be interested if anyone has an explanation.  And I wonder how anthem-protests are handled on our other teams.  Do any of our football players take a knee?  Other sports?