Dream and Valkyries leave court for national anthem, return seconds later at WNBA Finals
Fox News • • sports
Key Points:
- Both the Atlanta Dream and Golden State Valkyries left the court during the national anthem before Game 1 of the WNBA Finals but returned immediately after it ended, raising questions about their pregame routines.
- Atlanta Dream has a history of anthem protests dating back to 2020, when the team highlighted that the anthem "does not represent freedom, justice and liberty for all Americans," though the reasons for the recent absence were unclear.
- The article draws parallels to LSU’s Angel Reese and her team leaving the court during the national anthem in the 2024 NCAA Tournament, which LSU’s coach Kim Mulkey attributed to pregame preparation rather than an intentional protest.
- The author suggests that teams should adjust their routines to be present for the national anthem, emphasizing it as a reasonable expectation to show appreciation during championship events.
