{
  "id": 94780,
  "title": "Players Struggle to Stifle Laughs During Unusual Rendition of National Anthem at First WPBL Game",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/03/players-struggle-to-stifle-laughs-during-unusual-rendition-of",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-08-03T17:57:41.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Yahoo Sports",
    "slug": "yahoo-sports",
    "url": "https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/players-struggle-stifle-laughs-during-175741784.html"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The Women's Professional Baseball League kicked off its inaugural weekend on Saturday, Aug. 1, with a memorable moment that left players and fans trying to stifle their laughter. Motown singer Martha Reeves, known for her work with Martha and the Vandellas, took the field to perform \"The Star Spangled Banner\" alongside two backup singers. The unusual rendition of the national anthem captured the attention of viewers, as it was evident that players and fans were struggling to suppress their amusement. One fan jokingly commented, \"That player was FIGHTING FOR HER LIFE,\" while another playfully likened Reeves' performance to Fergie's infamous national anthem rendition at the 2018 NBA All-Star Game, where stars like LeBron James, Draymond Green, and Kevin Durant were also seen trying to hide their laughter. Martha Reeves, who celebrated her 85th birthday just days before the event, addressed the reaction to her performance on Sunday, Aug. 2, in a statement to TMZ. Despite the challenging field conditions, which included wet and windy weather and the absence of stage monitors, Reeves expressed her gratitude for being part of the historic event and supporting the remarkable athletes of the Women's Professional Baseball League.",
  "summary": "Martha Reeves’ rendition of the national anthem drew comparisons to Fergie’s infamous 2018 NBA All-Star Game performance",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}