The Golden State Valkyries and Atlanta Dream's absence from the court during the national anthem prior to Games 1 and 2 of the WNBA Finals drew attention, particularly from fans who typically do not follow the league. This practice, where some teams leave the court before the anthem, has been common over the past six seasons and is often tied to raising awareness for social justice issues or allowing players to focus on game preparation.
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The Valkyries indicated that this routine of going inside for the anthem, established since they became a WNBA franchise last year, aligns with their established pregame habits. Similarly, the Atlanta Dream has left the court prior to the anthem for several years. In contrast, teams like Indiana and Minnesota chose to remain on the court during the national anthem during the season.
The WNBA rulebook traditionally stipulated that players, coaches, and trainers should stand in a dignified posture along the sidelines during the anthem. However, these protocols were suspended during the 2017 season following racially charged events in Charlottesville, Virginia, allowing players and coaches the flexibility to express support for social justice causes, including during the 2020 season dedicated to Breonna Taylor.
There remains ambiguity regarding the enforcement of anthem protocols, as the league has not clarified whether teams or individual players are responsible for deciding their anthem practices. The WNBA has not provided a comment on this matter, highlighting a potential need for clearer guidance from the league.
In contrast, the U.S. national team consistently remains on the court during the anthem at international competitions like the World Cup and the Olympics due to differing timelines for anthem presentations, which occur after team introductions.