Por Renan Filho · 2026-10-20**Lead**
For the second consecutive game of the WNBA Finals, the Atlanta Dream and the Golden State Valkyries stayed inside their locker rooms while the national anthem played before Game 2 on Sunday night. The decision, repeated after a similar scene before Game 1, appears to defy the league's own rulebook, which states that all players and coaches must be on the sideline in a respectful stance for the anthem. The WNBA has not announced any fine or disciplinary action, and neither team has offered an on-the-record explanation.
**Contexto**
The national anthem protocol in the WNBA has long been a gray area in practice, even when the rulebook is explicit. The current collective bargaining agreement and the league's official playing rules both state that teams are required to participate in the anthem ceremony. Yet the anthem has become a recurring flashpoint since 2020, when players across the NBA and WNBA used pregame demonstrations to protest racial injustice, and when some teams chose to remain in tunnel areas during the national anthem. The league at that time announced a policy that would require players and coaches to stand for the anthem, but the implementation of that policy has been inconsistent and often left to individual teams.
The Atlanta Dream are no strangers to political controversy. The franchise was at the center of national attention in 2020 when former co-owner Kelly Loeffler, then a Republican senator from Georgia, opposed the league's social justice messaging and encouraged players to stand for the anthem. Players pushed back publicly, and Loeffler later lost her seat in a runoff. The team was sold to new ownership in 2021, led by Larry Gottesdiener and Suzanne Abair. The current Dream roster includes players who have been active in social justice conversations, but the Finals stage now amplifies every gesture in a way regular-season games do not.
The Golden State Valkyries, an expansion team that began play this season, have also developed a reputation for a progressive, player-led culture. Head coach and general manager Natalie Nakase has spoken in the past about creating an environment where players feel comfortable expressing their beliefs. The team's decision to skip the anthem again in the Finals suggests the choice is organized and intentional rather than accidental or spontaneous. Multiple reports from credentialed media at the arena confirmed the benches were empty during the anthem before both Game 1 and Game 2, with no visible league officials attempting to intervene.
**Analise**
The optics of skipping the anthem in the championship round are different from doing so in a regular-season game in early June. The WNBA Finals are the league's most visible product, watched by casual fans and sponsors who may not track every regular-season controversy. For a league that has invested heavily in growing its audience and building a new media profile, repeated anthem protests in October carry a high-stakes message. The silence from the league office is itself notable. The WNBA has not confirmed whether it considers the team's position a violation, nor has it elaborated on why the rulebook language exists if it is not consistently enforced.
There is also a question of competing values inside the league. The WNBA has proudly positioned itself as a socially conscious league, with players often praised for advocacy on issues like reproductive rights, gun violence and voting access. That identity appeals to a progressive fan base, but it also creates friction with the league's stated rulebook requirements. When a team skips the anthem, the league must choose between protecting its political brand and enforcing its own written standards. So far, the WNBA appears to be choosing not to choose, hoping the issue fades as the series moves on.
Every anthem protest also comes with a political reading, whether the players intend it or not. The U.S. national anthem has been a contested cultural symbol for years, and a high-profile women's basketball championship is now the latest stage where that contest is playing out. Neither team has issued a statement explaining the gesture, which leaves room for both supporters and critics to project their own meaning onto the silence. The lack of public explanation may be strategic, but it also creates more confusion for sponsors and neutral fans.
**Fontes**
The information in this article draws on the WNBA rulebook and collective bargaining agreement; game coverage and credentialed media reports from the WNBA Finals Games 1 and 2; public reporting on the Atlanta Dream ownership history and Kelly Loeffler's previous role; public comments and background on Golden State Valkyries head coach Natalie Nakase; and league statements and policies regarding national anthem protocol during the 2020 season.