Dream and Valkyries Leave Court Before Anthem Again in Finals Game 2
WHO:
Pro Football Network - ESPN analyst Lawrencia Moten questioned the Golden State Valkyries’ starters after their bench was outscored by one point in Game 2.
Fox News - The Atlanta Dream and Golden State Valkyries left the court before the national anthem before a second consecutive WNBA Finals game.
ABC News - The Valkyries said they had followed the same pregame routine of going inside for the anthem since becoming a WNBA franchise; Atlanta had left the court before the anthem for several years.
ABC News - Indiana and Minnesota were among teams that remained on court for the anthem during the season.
ABC News - The WNBA did not immediately respond to requests for comment about its anthem policy.
AP - Janie McCauley, an AP Sports Writer in San Francisco, contributed to the report.
Daily Mail Sports - Neither team in the championship series was on the floor when the anthem played before Game 2, repeating what happened in Game 1.
Sportskeeda - The Atlanta Dream and Golden State Valkyries each had a win, tying the series 1–1.
Pro Football Network - An ESPN figure criticized the Dream and Valkyries for leaving the court before the anthem ahead of Games 1 and 2.
NY Post - Pop singer Alanis Morissette sang the national anthem for Game 2.
Fox News - The Dream and Valkyries left before the anthem despite a requirement stated in the WNBA rulebook.
WHAT:
Pro Football Network - In the Valkyries’ Game 2 loss to the Atlanta Dream, Golden State’s bench scored 33 points and its starters scored 32.
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution - Nearly 1 million people attended concerts, comedy shows, and other non-sporting events at State Farm Arena between November 2024 and 2025.
ABC News - Social-media users noticed the teams’ absence, which prompted discussion.
ABC News - The WNBA 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.”
ABC News - The league suspended its anthem protocols in a memo to teams late in the 2017 season, saying players and coaches did not have to follow them.
ABC News - In 2020, teams left the court before the anthem as the WNBA dedicated the season to Breonna Taylor.
ABC News - The entire 2020 season was played in Florida because of the coronavirus pandemic.
ABC News - Many teams continued leaving the court before the anthem after 2020.
ABC News - The U.S. national team stays on court for anthems at the World Cup and Olympics; those events play both competing countries’ anthems after lineup introductions and before tipoff.
WHERE:
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution - State Farm Arena in downtown Atlanta was set to host two WNBA Finals games, the Atlanta Hawks’ home opener, and concerts across a six-day stretch.
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution - Billboard ranked State Farm Arena the second-busiest NBA venue in the United States the previous year, behind Madison Square Garden.
ABC News - The 2017 memo followed racially charged violence in Charlottesville, Virginia.
ABC News - Breonna Taylor was killed in her home in Louisville, Kentucky.
ABC News - The WNBA’s entire 2020 season was held in Florida.
AP - Janie McCauley contributed from San Francisco.
NY Post - Valkyries and Dream players were seen going to the locker room before the Game 2 anthem.
WHY:
ABC News - Teams have left the court to raise awareness of social-justice issues or to continue preparing for the game.
ABC News - The 2017 protocols were suspended to allow players to show support for victims of racially charged violence in Charlottesville.
ABC News - The rulebook’s applicability is unclear as to whether it covers only players on court or entire teams; the suspension has also left uncertainty over who decides whether teams stay on court.
ABC News - The league appears to defer the decision to individual teams, which may need more direction from the WNBA.
HOW:
ABC News - Many WNBA teams have left the court with 10 minutes remaining in pregame warmups, just before the anthem.
NY Post - The players went to the locker room shortly before Alanis Morissette performed the anthem.
The Atlanta Dream and Golden State Valkyries were off the court for the national anthem before Game 2 of the WNBA Finals, repeating what happened before Game 1. Alanis Morissette performed as players went to the locker rooms shortly before the anthem. The teams have split the first two games, leaving the series tied at one apiece. Their absence drew attention on social media and criticism from an ESPN analyst. The WNBA rulebook says players, coaches and trainers should stand in a dignified posture along the sidelines or foul line during the anthem. But the league suspended its anthem protocols late in the 2017 season, and many teams have continued leaving the court. Teams have done so to raise awareness of social-justice issues or keep preparing for games. The league has not clarified who decides whether teams remain on court, and the rule’s application is uncertain.