SAN FRANCISCO – The Atlanta Dream and Golden State Valkyries were off the court for the national anthem before Game 2 of the WNBA Finals on Monday night, repeating their Game 1 absences despite a provision in the league’s own rulebook calling for players to stand and line up during the performance.
WNBA SILENT AS FINALS TEAMS SKIP NATIONAL ANTHEM DESPITE RULE REQUIRING PLAYERS TO STAND IN LINE
Just like in Game 1, the teams left the floor less than one minute before the start of the anthem and returned mere seconds after the singer sang the final note.
Atlanta Dream and Golden State Valkyries stayed off the court for the Game 2 national anthem despite the WNBA rulebook requiring players to stand and line up. (NBAE via Getty Images)
The repeat absence followed OutKick’s questions to both teams about why they were off the court Saturday and whether they planned to be present for Monday’s anthem.
Despite multiple requests to both teams, those questions had gone unanswered when OutKick published a follow-up Monday morning.
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The WNBA’s rulebook includes an anthem provision
The WNBA’s 2026 official 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 national anthem.
OutKick asked the league about its anthem requirements, whether any discipline was planned or under consideration over Game 1, and whether it had instructed or planned to instruct either team to be on the court for Game 2.
The Atlanta Dream and Golden State Valkyries skipped the national anthem again before WNBA Finals Game 2 despite the league’s own rulebook requirement. (NBAE via Getty Images)
We also asked the league to confirm whether both teams would be present Monday.
The WNBA has not responded to multiple requests for comment.
Game 1 questions preceded another anthem absence
Before Saturday’s opener, both teams were warming up on the court before leaving just ahead of the anthem. They returned within seconds of the performance ending.
DREAM, VALKYRIES LEAVE COURT DURING NATIONAL ANTHEM, RETURN SECONDS LATER BEFORE WNBA FINALS
OutKick contacted the league, Dream and Valkyries that afternoon, then followed up with all three Sunday.
The team inquiries also asked whether the WNBA had communicated any instructions or expectations about the anthem since Game 1.
Golden State Valkyries star Gabby Williams and Atlanta Dream star Angel Reese are the among the players who remained off the floor at the WNBA Finals during the national anthem. (Getty Images)
Additionally, OutKick attended all five of Saturday’s pregame and postgame press conferences and raised a hand at each, but was never called on to ask the planned anthem questions.
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OutKick also attended both coaches’ press conferences prior to Game 2. Again, we were not called upon to ask a question.
The WNBA’s own rulebook calls for players to stand and line up for the anthem. Two games into its Finals, neither team has even been on the floor for it. And the league remains silent about the apparent violation of its own policy.
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