The Atlanta Dream and Golden State Valkyries incredible Game 1 matchup of the 2026 WNBA Finals has been overshadowed by a pregame decision by both teams.
The Valkyries got their Finals run off to a strong start with a 68-64 win over the Dream on their home floor in the Chase Center.
However, this performance did not mean a thing to the many conservative followers of the WNBA because of their decision to not stand on the Finals court for the U.S. national anthem.
Dream and Valkyries players criticised for not staying on the WNBA court for the U.S. national anthem
The Dream and Valkyries left the court for the national anthem before promptly returning seconds after it was over, a moment that did not go unnoticed by the conservative fans who have been following the WNBA.
“This is anti-American, disgraceful behaviour…,” blasted one fan strongly.
“Congratulations to the Golden State Valkyries! But what a shame to see players walk out during the national anthem… Truly disgraceful behaviour,” said another angry fan.
“WNBA is successful if the goal is to make people hate women’s basketball,” said a fan claiming this is making him, and other fans like him, hate women’s basketball.
“The players MUST be on the floor for the national anthem. If not, suspend them for that game! It is what it is,” said another fan, calling for a punishment.
“Disgrace. Send them to France,” said one fan.
Fans of basketball likely did not notice or even care about what happened pregame because of the incredible action on the court that succeeded it. However, the fans that don’t care for the on-court product will understandably focus on this moment as disrespectful to the country.
Neither team addressed why they walked off the court for the national anthem, so their true intentions cannot be confirmed. Even if it was a silent protest, it did not take away from the quality of basketball.
If this happens again in Game 2 or the subsequent clashes, this situation could turn political very quickly, especially given the attention the WNBA has been under over the last four months.
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