TRENDING NFL news, updates Rays take 3-2 ALCS lead NFL Winners and Losers WNBA Finals Game 2 preview AP Top 25 Story by Story by Atlanta Dream, Golden State Valkyries Spark Outrage for Skipping National Anthem at WNBA Finals Erica Denhoff/Cal Sport Media/Newscom/The Mega Agency Jennifer Lenhart Mon, October 19, 2026 at 2:56 PM UTC · 2 min read About Our Ads Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When the "Star-Spangled Banner" played at San Francisco's Chase Center ahead of Game 1 of the WNBA Finals on Saturday, October 17, neither team was on the court.
The Atlanta Dream and Golden State Valkyries left after warming up, according to Fox News' Outkick .
"Both teams also returned to the floor seconds after the anthem concluded. They literally left the floor for only the two minutes the anthem was played," Outkick reporter Dan Zaksheske wrote on X on October 17.
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Their absence was seemingly in violation of the league's rulebook , which requires that "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."
"Absolutely totally disgusting behavior by these disrespectful players," wrote one.
"If you can't stand for our National Anthem and for our Nation's Flag, you you don't deserve to ever don a Team USA jersey. Period!!!!" wrote another, seemingly referring to members of both teams — including the Dream's Angel Reese , who was on the U.S. team that took home the gold medal at the 2026 FIBA Women's World Cup .
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"Hating the country thats allowed them to make hundreds of thousands of dollars in a league that has never turned a profit is wild," another added, while a Facebook commenter quipped, "I bet all 37 fans were upset."
However, not everyone viewed the teams' absence as unusual.
"This is exactly how we know who the real wnba fans are. A lot of teams do this lol," wrote on Facebook commenter.
The Valkyries won the game 68-64. Ahead of Game 2 on Monday, October 19, Outkick later noted that neither the teams nor the WNBA have addressed the apparent rule violation.
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