For the second consecutive WNBA Finals game, both the Golden State Valkyries and the Atlanta Dream left the court before the national anthem and returned moments after it ended. The exits put a spotlight on a real tension: the 2026 WNBA rule book requires players, coaches and trainers to stand in a dignified posture during the anthem, but the league suspended its anthem protocol through a 2017 memo and has not commented on what’s happening in this series.
The silence is the story. No statement, no reprimand, no clarity from league officials, even as the moment plays out on the sport’s biggest stage. Players have been open about why they take a different stance, and fans have split into two loud camps: enforce the rule, or accept that it’s no longer in effect. Either way, the ambiguity is doing the talking.
Meanwhile, the basketball deserves attention too. The series is tied 1-1 heading into Game 3 on Wednesday at 8 p.m. ET, and these teams are putting on a show worth watching. Where do you land on the league’s silence: should the WNBA address it before Game 3, or stay out of it?
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Local Lawton
Local Lawton is a contributor to LocalBeat, covering local news and community stories.