Atlanta Dream and Golden State Valkyries exit court before anthem at WNBA Finals opening night
During the opening game of the 2026 WNBA Finals on October 19, the Atlanta Dream and the Golden State Valkyries left the court just before the national anthem was sung at the Chase Center in San Francisco.
The league’s 2026 rulebook states that players, coaches and trainers must stand and line up along the sidelines or foul line while the anthem plays. Both teams returned to the floor seconds after the anthem concluded, a move that drew criticism from several commentators and prompted questions about compliance with league policy.
OutKick reporter Dan Zaksheske noted on X that the teams were off the court for only the two minutes the anthem lasted and suggested the absence might have been part of a pre‑game routine. He added a shoulder‑shrug emoji and wrote, “Guess that’s just part of the pregame routine though.”
“Both the Dream and the Valkyries left the court prior to the playing of the National Anthem before Game 1 of the WNBA Finals,” Zaksheske posted, followed by the observation that the teams returned immediately after the performance.
Other social media users labeled the action “anti‑American” and “disgraceful,” urging players to honor the country and those who have served. No official response from the WNBA has been released, and attempts by OutKick to contact league officials, the Dream and the Valkyries on Saturday and again on Sunday went unanswered.
The controversy resurfaces a 2020 union statement referenced by a Fox News opinion piece, which claimed the anthem does not represent freedom, justice and liberty for all Americans and indicated that protests could continue in different forms. The statement was cited as background for the current protest, though the teams did not clarify whether the earlier messaging influenced their decision.
Game 2 is scheduled for Monday night at the same venue. OutKick’s follow‑up queries asked whether the teams would be present for the anthem and whether the league would enforce its rule, but as of the time of writing no answer has been provided.
As the finals progress, the lack of clarification leaves fans and league officials awaiting further guidance on how the anthem provision will be applied in subsequent games.
