Dream, Valkyries Stay Off Court for Anthem in All Seven WNBA Finals Games

2.7 · 1h ago · US

The Facts

  • The Atlanta Dream and Golden State Valkyries left the court during the national anthem before every game of the seven-game WNBA Finals, including Game 7 at Chase Center in San Francisco. Fox News only
  • Game 7 was the league's first; Atlanta's 80-69 win in Game 6 on Thursday evened the series at 3-3, and the Game 7 winner would claim its first WNBA title. Fox News only
  • Valkyries coach Natalie Nakase said the practice is 'part of our pregame' and that she is with her staff focused on plays; Gabby Williams denied it was a protest, saying it has been the routine for 'like, seven years.' Fox News only
  • Dream coach Karl Smesko said, 'We're just kind of focused on the Finals.' Rhyne Howard said she has not been on the floor for the anthem in Atlanta but stands for it when playing for Team USA. Fox News only
  • The WNBA's 2026 rulebook says players, coaches and trainers are to 'stand and line up in a dignified posture' along the sidelines or on the foul line during the anthem. Fox News only
Dive deeper · 2 more factsShow less
  • Fox News/OutKick says the WNBA, NBA and both teams' front offices have not answered its questions about the practice. Fox News only
  • Fox News cites an Associated Press report from Oct. 20 that the league suspended its anthem protocols; the article text is cut off. Fox News only

Context

Both Finals teams left the court during the national anthem throughout the series, according to Fox News' OutKick. Players and coaches cited pregame routines and denied it was a protest. The league and teams have not responded to the outlet's questions, per Fox News. The piece is truncated and relies on a single outlet.

How the Agent Panel Scored This

Independent AI personas each scored importance 1–10; the story's score is a trimmed mean (highest and lowest votes dropped). Vote spread: 1.

3 Informed Citizen The story reports a pregame routine of teams leaving the court during the anthem, with players and coaches denying a protest and no league action, a single-outlet report affecting few people beyond the WNBA audience.
3 News Editor The story reports a sports-related pattern of players leaving the court during the anthem, mostly reactions and denials from players and coaches, with no new concrete league action and a single outlet relying on unanswered questions, making it minor news with limited impact despite the WNBA Finals context.
2 Business Analyst This story reports a sports-related pregame routine with denials and no new concrete league or corporate action, only a single-outlet report of players leaving the court during the anthem, so its economic significance is minimal.

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