The Atlanta Dream and Golden State Valkyries have left the court just before the national anthem throughout the WNBA Finals, with their absences drawing criticism from all the way up to President Donald Trump, who, during a rally in Iowa on Thursday, urged fans to stop watching the WNBA.

The pattern reportedly continued before Saturday’s Game 4 in Atlanta, and many expressed their takes on the ongoing controversy that looms over the Finals.

Another National Anthem Exit During WNBA Finals Fuels More Debate Online

Both teams left the court moments before Crystal Renee Hayslett sang the anthem at State Farm Arena and returned seconds after it ended, while some fans stayed seated.

That made it four straight games, after they did the same in Games 1 and 2 at Chase Center in San Francisco on Oct. 17 and 19 and in Game 3 in Atlanta on Wednesday.

The WNBA’s 2026 rulebook still tells players, coaches and trainers to stand and line up along the sidelines or on the foul line during the anthem. The Associated Press, however, reported on October 20 that the league suspended its anthem protocols in 2017.

As of Saturday, the WNBA had not responded to OutKick’s multiple requests for comment on its current requirements or potential discipline.

New York Times Bestselling Author James Hirsen did not mince words in his verdict on the league: “What a sad sports organization.”

He wasn’t alone, as one WNBA observer was blunt in their take: “They all need to go.”

Attention has also turned to what the players do once they leave. A State Farm Arena employee told OutKick that Dream players stand in a hallway after leaving the court before games, though the team did not immediately respond to confirm the account.

Another fan weighed in with their take, posting, “We currently share a country, that is all. Imagine protesting everything every day, that must be exhausting.”

The protest question had already come up a day before Game 4.

At Friday’s media availability in Atlanta, Valkyries forward Gabby Williams answered “No” when asked whether the absences are a protest. Asked why the team was off the court, she said, “That’s been the routine for like, seven years now.”

Valkyries head coach Natalie Nakase described staying off the court as “part of our pregame.” When she was asked again who made the decision and why, she said, “I really don’t know.”

On the Dream side, head coach Karl Smesko declined to explain the absences when he was asked the same day why his team left the court and who made the decision.

Rhyne Howard also responded to calls to keep players who do not stand for the anthem off Team USA: “I don’t think I’ve been on the floor for the national anthem for any of my tenure in Atlanta, so if that’s what people are gonna look to nitpick for then so be it.”

Not everyone was critical, as one hoops fan came to the players’ defense and wrote, “GOOD JOB 👏🏾I am so (expletive) glad they did not cave to you.

“This is the land of the free, if they don’t want to stand for the national anthem, that’s their right,” they went on to add.

On the court, the Valkyries won 67-62 to even the best-of-seven series at 2-2, wiping out the lead Atlanta carried into Saturday.

Golden State built a 42-26 halftime lead and held on as the Dream shot 18-of-54 from the field and committed 17 turnovers.

Williams led the Valkyries with 17 points on 7-of-21 shooting, and Kiah Stokes pulled down 16 rebounds. Howard scored a team-high 19 points for the Dream, while Angel Reese was held to 8 points on 2-of-12 shooting with 6 turnovers.

Game 5 is Monday at Chase Center in San Francisco, and the winner will move within one victory of the title.