The Atlanta Dream and Golden State Valkyries are competing in the WNBA Finals, and both teams are getting criticized for something unrelated to the action on the floor.
Before Game 1 and Game 2, both teams left the court just before the national anthem and then came back as soon as it ended. The move drew the attention of social media and former ESPN sportscaster Linda Cohn, who did not shy away from sharing her thoughts.
Linda Cohn Questions Dream, Valkyries Leaving the Floor Before National Anthem
Cohn addressed the national anthem controversy during her livestream after Game 1. Then, on Monday, the Dream and Valkyries once again skipped the national anthem.
“I was really disappointed to see both teams run off the court right before the national anthem was played, only to run back out on the court the second the anthem was over,” Cohn said.
Cohn argued that she wasn’t asking for much.
“Would it have been so difficult to just stand there for two minutes? I mean, nobody is asking any of these players to put their hand over their heart or even sing the national anthem. Also, as I speak, the WNBA has yet to comment on this or issue a fine,” the ESPN legend added.
Before Game 1, both teams had been warming up before they left for the roughly two minutes it took Oakland R&B and soul singer Goapele to perform the anthem.
Then, both teams did the same thing prior to Game 2, skipping Alanis Morissette’s rendition of the “Star-Spangled Banner.”
OutKick’s Dan Zaksheske reported that the WNBA, the Dream, and the Valkyries did not respond to requests for comment over the weekend, and the reason for the teams’ absence during the anthem is still unknown.
This isn’t the first time the Dream’s absence during the anthem has drawn notice, as they missed the anthem before their Aug. 16 game against the Indiana Fever, a 95-91 overtime loss, and were criticized for it.
Beyond the pregame drama, Game 1 was a low-scoring affair. The Dream led 56-51 after three quarters before the Valkyries won the final frame 17-8.
Gabby Williams put Golden State ahead with two free throws with 1:18 left and added two more with 4.1 seconds remaining. She finished with 26 points, including 16 in the second quarter.
The Valkyries shot 32.1% from the field and 7-for-33 from 3-point range, while the Dream went 4-for-25 from deep. Allisha Gray, back from a hand injury, scored 19 points on 5-for-19 shooting, and Rhyne Howard went 3-for-14.
Angel Reese started the game on a positive note, recording 11 points on 5-for-6 shooting in the first quarter. But she had all 14 of her points by halftime and went scoreless in the second half. The three-time All-Star finished with 12 rebounds, 4 turnovers, and 5 fouls.
While Nakase credited Laeticia Amihere for her defense, Reese took the blame afterward, saying that the Valkyries’ defense wasn’t what stopped her and that she needed to be more assertive getting the ball and getting to her spots.
Despite entering the series on a 10-game winning streak (regular season and playoffs), the Dream are now 0-10 all-time in Finals games.
Game 2 is underway at Chase Center. The series will then move to State Farm Arena in Atlanta for Games 3 and 4 on Wednesday and Saturday.
This article originally appeared on Pro Football Network.