Dream and Valkyries Skip National Anthem Again in WNBA Finals Despite League Rulebook Requirement
The Atlanta Dream and Golden State Valkyries left the court just before the national anthem for the second straight game of the WNBA Finals, returning only seconds after the performance ended. Both teams did the same thing in Game 1 on Oct. 17, when the Valkyries won 68-64, and repeated it ahead of Game 2 on Oct. 19 at Chase Center in San Francisco, where Angel Reese scored 30 points and grabbed 16 rebounds to lead Atlanta to a 79-65 win, evening the series at 1-1. Singer Alanis Morissette performed the anthem both nights.
The WNBA's own rulebook calls for players, coaches and trainers to stand and line up during the anthem, but the league has not responded to questions about why both Finals teams have been absent for it twice in a row. Neither team has publicly explained the move this year, though the Atlanta Dream said in a 2020 statement that the anthem "does not represent freedom, justice and liberty for all Americans." The repeat absence has drawn visible frustration from fans on social media, even as the on-court series itself remains tightly contested.
The case for:
Players aren't obligated to participate in a patriotic ceremony, and stepping off the court quietly is a far less disruptive form of protest than kneeling or other more visible gestures.
The Dream's past explanation, that the anthem doesn't represent freedom and justice for all Americans, gives the move a specific point rather than blanket disrespect.
The case against:
The WNBA's own rulebook requires players, coaches and trainers to stand and line up for the anthem, and the league's silence on enforcement raises fairness questions for teams that do comply.
Fans have reacted with real anger online, arguing the repeated absence alienates the audience the league is trying to grow during its highest-profile series of the year.
What's your take?
Is it okay for the Dream and Valkyries to skip the national anthem? Yes 
No 
Other 
#WNBA #WNBAFinals #NationalAnthem #AtlantaDream #GoldenStateValkyries
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I get wanting to make a point, but doing it quietly on the biggest stage of your season without ever explaining why just reads like dodging the moment instead of actually using it.