OutKick: Both WNBA Finals Teams Stayed Off the Court for the National Anthem in Every Game, Including Game 7, and Still Won't Say Why
OutKick says the league, the NBA and both teams ignored its questions for two weeks. The WNBA rulebook still says players should stand in a dignified posture during the anthem.
OutKick, Fox's sports site, says the Atlanta Dream and Golden State Valkyries finished the WNBA Finals the way they started: off the court for the national anthem.
The pattern. In its Saturday report from San Francisco, OutKick says both teams left the floor before every game of the seven-game series, including Saturday's Game 7 at Chase Center. It says the practice continued despite criticism and repeated questions. The anthem for Game 7 was performed by San Francisco's Glide Ensemble. Singers at earlier games included Alanis Morissette in Game 2 and 10-year-old Heiress Harris in Game 6. OutKick says both teams were off the floor each time. Fox's separate game report says Golden State won Game 7, 68-63.
The answers. OutKick says it first asked the WNBA, NBA and both teams why on Oct. 17 and followed up on Oct. 18 and Oct. 20 without a reply. When it finally got to question people on Oct. 23, Valkyries coach Natalie Nakase said it was part of pregame: "That's been part of our pregame." Asked who set the routine she said, "I really don't know." Valkyries forward Gabby Williams said it was not a protest and had been the routine "for like, seven years now." Dream coach Karl Smesko said, "We're just kind of focused on the Finals." Dream guard Rhyne Howard said she had not been on the floor for the anthem in her time in Atlanta, but that when she wears a USA jersey, "I'm out for the national anthem every time." Team staff answered other questions with "Next question."
Fans. Fox says fans outside Atlanta's arena disagreed. Renard Hayes, a military veteran and father of Valkyries guard Tiffany Hayes, said, "This is America, by the way, and I've served this country, so they can choose what they want."
The rules. The WNBA's 2026 rulebook says players, coaches and trainers are to "stand and line up in a dignified posture" along the sideline or foul line during the anthem. The Associated Press reported Oct. 20 that the league suspended its anthem protocols in 2017, but the provision remains in the book. OutKick says it has asked the league to clarify enforcement and whether discipline is planned.
Note for readers: this is OutKick's reporting and framing. We have not seen a response from the league, the NBA or either team.