Soccer team plays U.S. national anthem early to prevent player protest

(Reuters) - The Washington Spirit women's soccer team on Wednesday played the U.S. national anthem while players were still in their locker rooms, preventing visiting star Megan Rapinoe from continuing her protest for social equality. Rapinoe knelt during "The Star Spangled Banner" before her game on Sunday in Chicago and vowed to continue to do so in support of San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick, who did not stand for the song before his NFL team's last two pre season games to pro