The WNBA rulebook spells out what players are expected to do during the national anthem, but the Atlanta Dream and Golden State Valkyries have now walked off the court during the ceremony before two consecutive Finals games. Their first exit on Saturday drew considerable backlash, yet both teams repeated the move ahead of Game 2 at Chase Center on Monday, bringing their actions under renewed scrutiny.

As the singer began performing the national anthem before Monday’s matchup, players from both teams were once again seen jogging off the court, returning only after the performance ended. OutKick called out the repeat incident on X, writing:

“Same league. Same disrespect. The Atlanta Dream and Golden State Valkyries skip the anthem AGAIN before Game 2 of the WNBA Finals, then stroll back out when it’s over.”

The back-to-back incidents have drawn scrutiny not only because some view the gesture as disrespectful to the nation, but also because the league’s own rules outline what players and team personnel are expected to do during the anthem.

In Section H of the II. BASIC PRINCIPLES portion of the WNBA rulebook, it states that: “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.”

So by leaving the court for the duration of the performance, the Dream and Valkyries’ actions appear inconsistent with that requirement. However, the distinction between conduct that appears contrary to a written rule and a formal finding of a violation remains important. Whether the league considers the walkouts a violation has not been publicly established. The WNBA has yet to announce a disciplinary decision regarding either incident, and the cited rule does not specify penalties for noncompliance.

But that still leaves one key question unanswered: why did both teams choose to walk out?

The WNBA has a long history of players using their platform to speak on social and political issues. For example, during the 2020 season, players pushed for racial justice and supported the Black Lives Matter movement, while the Atlanta Dream made headlines when their players backed Raphael Warnock in his Senate campaign against the Dream’s then-co-owner Kelly Loeffler.

The Dream’s history of player activism provides context, but it does not establish the reason behind the walkout. Neither the Dream nor the Valkyries has publicly clarified why their players left the court during the anthem, leaving the motivation behind their actions unconfirmed.

That absence of an explanation has become another part of the controversy. Following Saturday’s Game 1 incident, OutKick reporter Dan Zaksheske said he and his team had sought answers from the league and both franchises. On X, he wrote that they “asked the league and both teams to explain.” However, “None answered.”

It is also worth noting that an X account called Fever Updates, which has more than 9,500 followers, claimed after Game 1 that the league fined both teams a mere $30 for their actions. However, there is no evidence to support the claim that the WNBA imposed these fines. Even so, the post spread widely on X, with fans reacting to the alleged penalties and questioning the league’s decision.

Repeating an action that has already drawn massive criticism is likely to keep the debate alive as the Finals progress. Some observers may focus on the rulebook and the league’s responsibility to enforce its stated expectations, while others may view the walkout through the broader history of athlete expression in the WNBA. Yet without an explanation from the teams, their specific intentions remain unclear.

The Golden State Valkyries and Atlanta Dream are scheduled to meet again for Game 3 on Wednesday, October 21, at State Farm Arena in Atlanta. So after two consecutive anthem walkouts, the next pregame ceremony will draw added attention, with viewers likely watching to see whether the teams repeat the move and whether the league finally responds.