Teams leave court before national anthem at WNBA Finals
The Golden State Valkyries and Atlanta Dream tipped off the WNBA Finals on Saturday at Chase Center, with Golden State rallying late to take a 1-0 series lead. But before the game even started, both teams found themselves at the center of a controversy. Both the Valkyries and the Dream reportedly left the court shortly…
During the first game of the 2026 WNBA Finals between the Golden State Valkyries and Atlanta Dream at Chase Center in San Francisco, both teams left the court before the national anthem began and returned almost immediately after it ended. This incident, which drew criticism online, has left fans and analysts wondering about the reason behind the teams' actions.
While neither team has commented on the matter, it has been suggested that it may have been part of their pregame routine, similar to LSU's 2024 Elite Eight game when Angel Reese's LSU team left the floor for the anthem.
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