The WNBA Finals tipped off with a moment of controversy before the basketball even started. On Saturday afternoon at Chase Center, both the Atlanta Dream and the Golden State Valkyries made a statement by leaving the court during the playing of the national anthem.
According to Dan Zaksheske of OutKick, who was on site for Game 1, players from both teams exited the floor just before “The Star-Spangled Banner” began and returned only after it concluded. The entire sequence lasted roughly two minutes, but the symbolic gesture didn’t go unnoticed.
“Both the Dream and the Valkyries left the court prior to the playing of the National Anthem before Game 1 of the WNBA Finals,” Zaksheske reported. “They literally left the floor for only the two minutes the anthem was played. Guess that’s just part of the pregame routine though.”
The decision to skip the anthem isn’t entirely surprising—several players across the league have used the platform to protest social injustice in recent years. But that didn’t stop a wave of criticism from flooding social media. “Fix your league… Both the Dream and the Valkyries left the court prior to the playing of the National Anthem before Game 1 of the WNBA Finals,” one fan wrote on X. Another called it a “trash league,” while a third user threatened, “If I was a fan I would’ve walked out, right after the National Anthem.” A fourth declared, “WNBA hates America.”
The move comes as the Dream and Valkyries have been making headlines for their on-court success. Atlanta swept both the Washington Mystics and the New York Liberty to reach the Finals, while Golden State survived a scare from the Dallas Wings before sweeping the Las Vegas Aces in the semifinals. The matchup has drawn plenty of attention, including from rival players offering respect and fans cheering the league's decision to spotlight the series.
This isn’t the first time the anthem has been a flashpoint in sports. From the NFL’s kneeling protests to NBA players staying in the locker room, the debate over whether athletes should participate has raged for years. The WNBA, in particular, has a history of players using their platform to push for change, and this latest act is likely to fuel that conversation further.
Neither the Dream nor the Valkyries have issued an official statement about the anthem decision, and it remains to be seen whether any player will address the backlash after Game 1. The league itself has yet to comment publicly.
For now, the focus shifts back to the court, where the series is expected to be highly competitive. The Dream are chasing their first title in franchise history, while the Valkyries are aiming to cap a remarkable debut season. But the anthem controversy is sure to linger in the background, adding another layer of tension to an already intense Finals.
As the series progresses, all eyes will be on how the teams respond—both in their play and in their public statements. One thing is certain: the WNBA Finals have started with a bang, and not just because of the basketball.
