The Atlanta Dream and Golden State Valkyries sparked discussion before Game 1 of the 2026 WNBA Finals after both teams left the court during the national anthem at San Francisco’s Chase Center on October 17.

According to an article by OutKick’s Dan Zaksheske, both teams had been on the court warming up before leaving for the roughly two-minute performance of “The Star-Spangled Banner.” 

Players returned to the floor almost immediately after the anthem ended. Neither team’s reason for leaving was immediately clear, leaving questions about whether the decision was related to pregame routines or something else.

The incident drew additional attention because of the WNBA’s history of national anthem protests. In 2020, the Atlanta Dream shared a statement from the players’ union explaining concerns that the anthem did not represent freedom, justice and liberty for all Americans. 

Neither team has confirmed that Saturday’s absence was a political statement.

The situation also recalled a similar episode involving LSU women’s basketball during the 2024 NCAA Tournament. At the time, coach Kim Mulkey explained that her team’s absence during the anthem was not intentional, but rather part of its established pregame preparation routine.