Dream and Valkyries leave court before anthem in WNBA Finals Games 1 and 2
In short
The Atlanta Dream and Golden State Valkyries were not on the court for the national anthem before Game 1 or Game 2 of the WNBA Finals in San Francisco. Fox News (via OutKick) noted the league rulebook calls for players to stand and line up, while the Associated Press said many teams have left the court before the anthem for at least six seasons and the league's anthem protocols were suspended years ago.
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The Atlanta Dream and Golden State Valkyries were not on the court for the national anthem before Game 1 of the WNBA Finals at Chase Center in San Francisco, according to OutKick reporting published by Fox News. Both teams were warming up and left just ahead of the anthem. Within seconds of the performance ending, the players were jogging back onto the floor, Fox News reported. [ 1 ]
Fox News reported on Oct. 19 that the two teams skipped the anthem again before Game 2, which was played that Monday night. A later Fox News item said the teams left the court before the anthem for a second straight Finals game and said readers of OutKick criticised the players. [ 1 , 2 , 5 ]
OutKick said the WNBA's 2026 official rulebook includes an anthem provision that calls for players, coaches and trainers to form a standing line at a sideline or foul line while the anthem plays. The league has not answered OutKick's questions about its anthem requirements or whether any discipline is planned. OutKick said it contacted the league and both teams on Saturday and followed up on Sunday, and that none answered the anthem questions before publication. It also said it attended all five of Saturday's pregame and postgame press conferences but was not called on. [ 1 ]
The Associated Press, whose article was also published by ABC News, said the absence created somewhat of a stir on social media. It said it has been common practice for many WNBA teams over at least the past six seasons to leave the court with 10 minutes left in pregame warmups, right before the anthem. In its account, teams have left to raise awareness for social justice issues or simply to continue to get ready for the game. [ 3 , 4 ]
The Valkyries said they have kept the same pregame routine of going inside the locker room for the anthem since becoming a WNBA franchise last year. Atlanta has left the court before the anthem the past several years, the Associated Press said. A few teams, including Indiana and Minnesota, remained on the court for the anthem during the season. [ 3 , 4 ]
The Associated Press said there is some confusion about the current league policy. The rulebook says, "Players, coaches, and trainers are to stand and line up in a dignified posture along the sidelines or on the foul line during the playing of the National Anthem," but the protocols were suspended years ago. Late in the 2017 season, the league said in a memo to teams that players and coaches did not have to follow them, a memo sent to allow players to show support for victims after a white nationalist rally in Charlottesville, Virginia, that summer. The Associated Press said it is unclear whether the rule refers only to players on the court or to entire teams. [ 4 ]
Why it matters
The absences drew attention on social media and criticism from OutKick readers, according to the outlets. The documents show confusion over what the league's anthem policy currently requires, and the league had not answered OutKick's questions.
Key facts
- The Dream and the Valkyries left the court just ahead of the national anthem before Game 1 of the WNBA Finals at Chase Center, and players jogged back onto the floor within seconds of the performance ending. [ 1 ]
- Both teams were again absent for the anthem before Game 2 on Monday, Oct. 19, 2026. [ 2 , 3 , 4 ]
- The WNBA rulebook says players, coaches and trainers are to stand and line up along the sidelines or on the foul line during the anthem. [ 1 , 4 ]
- The Associated Press said it has been common practice for many WNBA teams over at least the past six seasons to leave the court with 10 minutes left in pregame warmups, right before the anthem. [ 3 , 4 ]
- The Valkyries said they have kept the same routine of going inside the locker room for the anthem since becoming a franchise last year; Atlanta has left the court before the anthem the past several years. [ 3 , 4 ]
- The league did not answer OutKick's questions about the teams' absence, and neither team answered them before publication. [ 1 ]
Confirmed by several sources
Still unclear
- Why the teams were off the court for the Game 1 anthem and whether the league has given them any instructions. OutKick said the league and both teams had not answered its questions before publication.
- Whether the league plans any discipline or will enforce the rulebook provision. OutKick said the league did not answer its questions on discipline or on its anthem requirements.
- Whether the rulebook provision applies only to players on the court or to entire teams. The Associated Press said this is unclear and that there is some confusion about the current WNBA policy.
What local media are saying
Timeline, local time
- On Oct. 19, Fox News published OutKick's report that both Finals teams left the court for the Game 1 anthem and that the league had not answered questions. [ 1 ]
- On Oct. 19, Fox News reported that the two teams skipped the anthem again before Game 2. [ 2 ]
- On Oct. 20, the Associated Press published an explainer on the anthem rules and why some teams stay on the court and others do not. [ 3 ]
- On Oct. 20, ABC News published the same explainer. [ 4 ]
- On Oct. 20, Fox News reported on criticism of the players from OutKick readers. [ 5 ]