WNBA Finals teams end season with one final national anthem snub as Dream, Valkyries leave court

The Atlanta Dream and Golden State Valkyries consistently left the court before the national anthem throughout the entire seven-game WNBA Finals series. Despite repeated inquiries from the media and criticism, neither the WNBA, the teams, nor the players offered a clear explanation, citing pregame routines instead. This practice continued even before the deciding Game 7, leaving the league’s anthem protocols and enforcement in question.

• Both the Atlanta Dream and Golden State Valkyries left the court for the national anthem before all seven WNBA Finals games.
• Players and coaches offered vague explanations, citing pregame routines as the reason for their absence.
• The WNBA, NBA, and both teams’ front offices have not provided a clear answer regarding the practice.
• The league’s 2026 official rulebook states players should stand for the anthem, but a 2017 suspension of protocols is still in effect.
• Fans expressed mixed opinions on the players’ decision to leave the court during the anthem.