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WNBA remains silent on national anthem controversy

The WNBA’s 2026 Finals kicked off with a moment of silence—or rather, absence—when both the Atlanta Dream and Golden State Valkyries left the court before the national anthem at Chase Center. The teams exited the floor shortly before Goapele’s performance, returning just seconds after the anthem concluded.

While pregame routines sometimes involve players leaving the court before tipoff, the WNBA’s rulebook explicitly requires players, coaches, and staff to stand in a line during the anthem if present on the floor. Despite repeated inquiries, neither the league nor the teams have addressed the incident, leaving the motives unclear as Game 2 looms for Monday night.

The league’s policy technically allows players to avoid the court entirely, but the lack of explanation has drawn scrutiny, particularly after similar occurrences in past games, such as LSU’s 2024 Elite Eight matchup against Iowa.

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