WNBA silent after Finals teams skip national anthem despite rule requiring players to stand and line up

SAN FRANCISCO – The WNBA’s own rulebook calls for players, coaches and trainers to stand and line up along the sidelines or foul line during the national anthem.

Both of its Finals teams left the court for Saturday’s performance , and the league has not answered OutKick’s questions about their absences.

And with Game 2 set for Monday night , neither team has told OutKick whether it plans to be on the floor for the anthem this time.

GABBY WILLIAMS DELIVERS LATE AS VALKYRIES SHUT DOWN ANGEL REESE, DREAM TO WIN WNBA FINALS OPENER Both teams were warming up on the court Saturday at Chase Center before leaving just ahead of the national anthem.

Within seconds of the performance ending, the players were jogging back onto the floor.

Getting an explanation for why the teams chose to be off the floor for those roughly two minutes has been incredibly difficult.

OutKick contacted the WNBA, and both the Dream and Valkyries on Saturday, then followed up with all three Sunday.

None answered the anthem questions before publication.

OutKick also attended all five of Saturday’s pregame and postgame press conferences but was not called on.

We had planned to ask about the teams’ plans before the game and their absence from the anthem afterward.

The follow-up questions to both teams were straightforward: Why were their players off the court during the Game 1 anthem? Would they be there for Game 2? Had the WNBA communicated any instructions or expectations about the anthem since Saturday? ANGEL REESE'S WNBA FINALS APPEARANCE AFTER CHICAGO EXIT RAISES QUESTIONS ABOUT WINNING MENTALITY The WNBA’s 2026 official rulebook includes an anthem provision covering players, coaches and trainers.

It calls for them to form a standing line at a sideline or foul line while the anthem plays.

The league has not answered OutKick’s questions about its anthem requirements, whether any discipline is planned or under consideration, or whether it will instruct either team to be present for Game 2.

We also asked the league to confirm whether both teams would be on the court for Monday's anthem.