WNBA Finals Teams Skip National Anthem Amid Scheduling Change

The Atlanta Dream and Golden State Valkyries have been exiting the court before the national anthem is played during the WNBA Finals, returning after the song ends. Neither team has offered an explanation for the practice, and league officials have not commented publicly.

The league announced that Game 6 will be held at 12:30 p.m. Eastern time on Thursday, after the Dream requested a venue change from the 3,500-seat Gateway Center Arena to the 17,000-seat State Farm Arena, which conflicts with an NBA game scheduled for the same day.

Analysts note that the controversy has received minimal coverage compared with similar actions in other major sports leagues, and that the absence of star player Caitlin Clark from the finals may have contributed to the lower public profile of the issue.