SAN FRANCISCO — The Atlanta Dream and Golden State Valkyries were off the court for the national anthem before Game 2 of the WNBA Finals Monday night, repeating their absences in Game 1 despite a provision in the league rulebook calling for players to stand and line up during the performance.
WNBA remains silent as Finals teams skip national anthem despite rule requiring players to stand in line
Just like in the first game, the teams left the floor less than a minute before the anthem began and returned just seconds after the singer sang the final note.
Atlanta Dream and Golden State Valkyries remained off the court during the national anthem in Game 2 despite WNBA rules requiring players to stand and line up. (NBAE via Getty Images)
The repeated absence follows OutKick’s questions to both teams about why they were off the field Saturday and whether they planned to be present for Monday’s anthem.
Despite multiple requests to both teams, these questions remained unanswered when OutKick published a follow-up Monday morning.
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WNBA rulebook includes anthem provision
The WNBA’s official rules for 2026 state that players, coaches and trainers must “stand and line up in a dignified posture” along the sidelines or at the foul line during the national anthem.
OutKick asked the league about its anthem requirements, whether any discipline was planned or considered during the first game, and whether it had requested or planned to order either team to be on the field for Game 2.
The Atlanta Dream and Golden State Valkyries once again skipped the national anthem before Game 2 of the WNBA Finals, despite league rule requirements. (NBAE via Getty Images)
We have also asked the league to confirm whether both teams will be present on Monday.
The WNBA did not respond to multiple requests for comment.
Game 1 Questions Preceded Another No Anthem
Before Saturday’s opener, both teams warmed up on the field before leaving just before the national anthem. They returned a few seconds after the end of the performance.
DREAM, VALKYRIES LEAVE FIELD DURING NATIONAL ANTHEM, RETURN SECONDS LATER BEFORE WNBA FINALS
OutKick contacted the league, Dream and Valkyries that afternoon, then followed up with all three on Sunday.
The team’s investigations also asked whether the WNBA had communicated any instructions or expectations regarding the anthem since the first game.
Golden State Valkyries star Gabby Williams and Atlanta Dream star Angel Reese were among the players who stayed off the court during the WNBA Finals during the national anthem. (Getty Images)
Additionally, OutKick attended all five of Saturday’s pregame and postgame press conferences and raised his hand at each, but was never invited to ask the scheduled anthem questions.
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OutKick also attended both coaches’ press conferences before Game 2. Again, we weren’t asked any questions.
WNBA rules require players to stand and line up for the anthem. Two games into their final, neither team was even on the field for it. And the league remains silent on this apparent violation of its own policy.
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