Atlanta Dream and Golden State Valkyries skip national anthem for third straight WNBA Finals game

Key Points:

• In Game 3 of the WNBA Finals at State Farm Arena, both the Atlanta Dream and Golden State Valkyries again stayed off the court during the national anthem, marking their third consecutive absence despite league rules requiring players to stand and line up.
• The WNBA’s 2026 official rulebook mandates that players, coaches, and trainers "stand and line up in a dignified posture" during the anthem, but neither the league nor the teams have addressed or explained the repeated noncompliance.
• OutKick repeatedly sought comments from the WNBA, the teams, and the NBA regarding potential discipline, exemptions, or instructions related to the anthem protocol, but received no responses from any party involved.
• Attempts to raise the issue during multiple Finals press conferences were ignored, and even two individuals in the WNBA public relations area remained seated during the anthem without explanation.
• Despite the venue change for Game 3, the anthem absences persisted, highlighting an ongoing conflict between league rules and player actions with no official clarification or enforcement to date.