It was like rats deserting a sinking ship. During Games 1 and 2 of the WNBA Finals, the teams scurried into their locker rooms just before the National Anthem was played.

The Atlanta Dream and Golden State Valkyries were off the court for the national anthem before Game 2 of the WNBA Finals on Monday night, repeating their Game 1 absences despite a provision in the league’s own rulebook calling for players to stand and line up during the performance.

Just like in Game 1, the teams left the floor less than one minute before the start of the anthem and returned mere seconds after the singer sang the final note.

So stunning! Much brave. Incredibly disrespectful.

Keep in mind, this is a league that has been struggling for fans. This is a league that has had a majority of its players target Caitlin Clark because she’s really REALLY good and had the audacity to be…WHTE.

This is a league that has been bitching about their pay and yet has chosen poorly on many an occasion. Fans want to see good basketball. Most, except for some of the rabid fanbase, don’t want to see teams and a league engage in struggle sessions regarding the definition of a woman.

This is who claims we were antagonizing. pic.twitter.com/DLNW8wtCGO

— Jennifer Sey (@JenniferSey) October 17, 2026

Interesting fanbase Golden State has there. Watching women get triggered over a t-shirt that celebrates …women is peak absurdity.

But now, the WNBA is getting more and more blatant with their disrespect of the fans, and of this country. Both teams made the choice to run to the locker rooms instead of standing courtside for the National Anthem.

Both WNBA Finals teams run off the court moments before the national anthem for the second straight game, returning seconds after the performance ends.@Outkick video shows players from the Atlanta Dream and Golden State Valkyries are noticeably absent during the anthem ahead of… pic.twitter.com/xkb5Ll9noo

— Fox News (@FoxNews) October 20, 2026

It seems they are allowed to do this. Why? Because the league relaxed the rules starting in 2017 so that teams or players could diss the National Anthem in favor of showboating for their favorite cause.

Fans who don’t usually watch the WNBA might be asking why the Golden State Valkyries and Atlanta Dream were not on the court during the playing of the national anthem ahead of Game 1 or 2 of the league’s championship series.

Their absence was noticed and created somewhat of a stir on social media. However, it’s been common practice for many WNBA teams over at least the past six seasons to leave the court with 10 minutes left in pregame warmups — right before “The Star Spangled Banner” is played. Teams have left to raise awareness for social justice issues or simply to continue to get ready for the upcoming game.

The Valkyries say they have maintained the same pregame routine of going inside for the anthem as they’ve done since becoming a WNBA franchise last year; Atlanta has left the court prior to the anthem the past several years.

A few teams, including Indiana and Minnesota, remained on the court for the anthem during the season.

The Associated Press also is trying to convince people that the rule wasn’t clearly written.

According to the rulebook, “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.”

It’s unclear if the rule refers to players who are on the court, or entire teams.

Late in the 2017 season, the league suspended its protocols in a memo to teams, saying players and coaches didn’t have to follow them. The memo was sent to allow players to show support for victims of racially charged violence in Charlottesville, Virginia, that occurred that summer.

I don’t know about you, but that rule is extremely clear. It doesn’t say “some” players, coaches, and trainers. The rule means ALL of them should stand for the National Anthem.

But here we are. The WNBA can’t define a woman and can’t even enforce a rule that requires respect for our National Anthem.

The next time the players go crying to the media about their lack of pay, we should shove their disrespect for the National Anthem and this country into their faces.

Feature Photo Credit: American flag and basketball via iStock, cropped and modified