The Atlanta Dream and Golden State Valkyries stepped off the court while the national anthem played before Game 1 of the 2026 WNBA Finals at Chase Center in San Francisco on Saturday, October 17.
Both teams returned within seconds after the performance ended, but the reason for their absence was not immediately clear, according to a Fox News report.
The two sides had been warming up on the floor before leaving for roughly two minutes, about the length of The Star-Spangled Banner.
They resumed their pregame activities shortly after the singer finished, ahead of the championship series opener.
Context Around Anthem Absences
The moment drew attention given the WNBA's history of anthem-related protests and past questions about teams staying off the court during the performance.
However, available reporting did not establish whether either team's departure was intentional or tied to a protest.
Atlanta's history on the issue includes a statement in the team's August 2, 2020, game notes.
The statement came from the WNBA players' union and addressed demonstrations during the national anthem.
The union said the anthem does not represent freedom, justice and liberty for all Americans, adding that protests would continue in different forms.
That statement reflected debates around player demonstrations during the 2020 season, but it did not explain the actions of the Dream or Valkyries before the 2026 Finals opener.
A similar controversy arose during the 2024 NCAA Tournament, when LSU faced Iowa in an Elite Eight matchup in Albany, New York.
Iowa's players stood together and held hands during the national anthem, while LSU's players were off the court.
After the game, LSU coach Kim Mulkey was asked whether her team's absence had been deliberate.
She said she had not been aware of when the anthem was performed and described the team's established pregame schedule.
According to Mulkey, LSU's routine required players to leave the court at the 12-minute mark before tipoff, and she denied the absence was meant as a statement.
"I'm sorry, listen, that's nothing intentionally done," Mulkey said after the Iowa game.
Her explanation attributed LSU's absence to its preparation routine rather than a deliberate demonstration.
That account concerned the 2024 college basketball tournament and did not establish the reasons behind the two WNBA teams' departure before the 2026 championship game.
