WNBA Finals Concludes With Teams Consistently Absent for National Anthem

The WNBA Finals concluded with both the Atlanta Dream and the Golden State Valkyries consistently absent from the court during the national anthem for all seven games of the series. This pattern drew criticism and repeated questions regarding the teams' pregame routines.

Unexplained Absence Throughout the Series

For each game of the WNBA Finals, which extended to a full seven contests, both the Dream and Valkyries left the floor before the national anthem was performed. This series-long pattern persisted despite scrutiny and inquiries about why the players were not present during the anthem.

During Game 7 at Chase Center in San Francisco, the anthem was performed by the Glide Ensemble, a choir whose website describes its mission as spreading a message of "diversity, acceptance and love," rooted in "protest and visions of a more just and loving world." However, the players' absence from the court continued.

The league's first Game 7 followed Atlanta's victory that evened the series. The winner of the final game was set to claim the franchise's first WNBA championship.

Despite repeated inquiries from OutKick, which began two weeks prior to the end of the series, the WNBA, NBA, and the front offices of both teams had not provided explanations for the players' absences during the anthem. When players and coaches were questioned directly, they typically referred to their pregame routines.

Pregame Routines Cited as Reason

Golden State coach Natalie Nakase stated that the practice was part of their pregame routine, noting it had been ongoing for two years. When asked about the origin of this routine or its purpose, Nakase indicated she did not know and that her focus during those moments was on plays with her staff. Valkyries forward Gabby Williams denied the absence was a protest, attributing it to a routine that had been in place for approximately seven years, although the Golden State franchise was only in its second season. Williams previously played for other teams but did not confirm if they followed the same practice.

Atlanta coach Karl Smesko offered minimal comment when asked about his team's decision to leave the court during the anthem, stating only that the team was focused on the Finals.

Player and Fan Perspectives

Dream guard Rhyne Howard addressed calls for players to be excluded from Team USA due to their conduct during the WNBA season. Howard stated that she had not been on the floor for the anthem during her tenure with the Dream but emphasized her commitment to standing for the anthem when representing Team USA. "Yes, I love the country that I play for and I love what we have here," she said.

Fans outside State Farm Arena offered divided opinions. Renard Hayes, father of Golden State guard Tiffany Hayes, referenced his own military service and stated that players have the right to choose their actions, asserting it was not a disrespect of the flag. Other fans expressed a desire for the players to be present on the court, while some supported the players' choice, viewing it as their prerogative.

Rulebook and Unanswered Questions

The WNBA's 2026 official rulebook includes a provision stating that players, coaches, and trainers are expected to "stand and line up in a dignified posture" along the sidelines or foul line during the national anthem. The league reportedly suspended its anthem protocols in 2017, although the provision remains in the current rulebook.

OutKick's inquiries to the WNBA, Dream, and Valkyries regarding current requirements, enforcement, potential discipline, and league communications to the teams went unanswered. The NBA league office was also contacted regarding its role in the matter.

An inquiry to the Atlanta Dream concerning an arena employee's account of players standing in a hallway after leaving the court before games also received no response. Attempts to observe the players' actions during the anthem were also blocked by arena staff.

As the season concluded, both teams finished having consistently remained off the court during the national anthem for every Finals game.