WNBA Finals national anthem controversy: No, players don’t need to be on court

With the WNBA Finals underway, some of the usual culture war instigators have come out to play. Rather than focusing on the play, there has been some very strong online discourse about the Golden State Valkyries and the Atlanta Dream players leaving the court prior to tip-off.

Some of the outlets that only cover the league to stir up drama need to find a way to get a piece of the WNBA Finals pie, so the national anthem controversy has been elevated.

Much like the “transgender athletes in women’s sports” conversation was used as a distraction midway through the season to create further division, the national anthem controversy has been reignited, despite nothing changing over the past few years.

Critics who are ripping players and coaches for leaving the court during the anthem are citing “league rules” that outline proper protocol for those on the court. There’s one problem: those rules were suspended nearly a decade ago.

MORE: Angel Reese stuns in kitten heels with Gucci bag for WNBA Finals Game 2

Players, Coaches Not Required To Be On Court During Anthem

Alanís Morisette with a great rendition of the national anthem before G2 of the WNBA Finals in San Francisco. Valkyries host the Dream. https://t.co/VNU3behAaw

— Joseph Dycus (@joseph_dycus) October 20, 2026

Online critics have falsely claimed that players walked out “during the national anthem,” which is not true. Players leave the court as part of their pre-game routine.

Teams routinely leave the court with approximately 10 minutes remaining during warm-ups. It is not a new occurrence.

In fact, the Valkyries, who hosted the first two games of the series, have never been on the court for the anthem since the franchise joined the league. The Dream, meanwhile, have not been present on the court during the anthem for several years. It’s part of their routine, like many other franchises around the league.

As for the rulebook, it states: “Players, coaches, and trainers are to stand and line up in a dignified posture along the sidelines or on the foul line during the playing of the National Anthem.” But, as previously stated, those protocols were suspended in 2017, and a memo was sent out to all teams.

MORE: Valkyries’ Kaila Charles flexes flawless Kente fabric crop top for WNBA Finals Game 2

Why Did WNBA Suspend National Anthem Protocols?

The rules were initially suspended during the 2017 season so players could show support for victims after a white nationalist rally in Charlottesville, Virginia. A few years later, teams left the court in remembrance of Breonna Taylor, and the league dedicated the season to her.

Since 2020, when teams left the court during the COVID-19 pandemic and the entire season was played in the bubble, the league has never reinstated the rules, and teams have made it their normal routine.

Regardless of your personal feelings on the matter, the league has deferred to teams on whether they want to be on the court during the anthem since suspending the rules. So, no, the players are not “required by league rules” to be on the court, and they haven’t been for nearly a decade.

—Enjoy free coverage of the top news & trending stories with The Big Lead Newsletter—