WNBA Finals teams end season with one final national anthem snub as Dream, Valkyries leave court

SAN FRANCISCO – The WNBA Finals went the full seven games. And the Atlanta Dream and Golden State Valkyries stayed off the court for the national anthem before every one of them.

Both teams left the floor before Saturday nights deciding game at Chase Center, completing a series-long pattern that continued about why their pregame routines take them off the court during the performance.

Saturdays anthem was performed by San Franciscos Glide Ensemble. The choirs website describes its music as "steeped in protest and visions of a more just and loving world" and says it spreads a message of "diversity, acceptance and love."

Not even a radically left-wing church choir could get the players to stand on the court for two minutes during the anthem.

The leagues first Game 7 came after evened the series at 3–3.

Saturdays winner will claim its franchises first WNBA championship.

Two weeks after OutKick first asked why the teams were leaving the floor for the anthem, the WNBA, NBA and both teams front offices still have not answered our questions. Players and coaches have pointed to their pregame routines.

The performers and venues changed. The teams absence from the court did not.

Alanis Morissette sang before Game 2 at Chase Center. On Thursday in Atlanta, 10-year-old Heiress Harris, the daughter of rapper T.I., . Both teams were off the floor for those performances.

When OutKick finally had an opportunity to question players and coaches directly at media availability in Atlanta on Oct. 23, Golden State coach Natalie Nakase said the practice was part of pregame.

"Were two years in," Nakase said. "Thats been part of our pregame."

Asked who established the routine and why, Nakase said, "I really dont know."

"I understand your question," she added. "Im not trying to, you know, not answer your question. Its just part of our pregame."

OutKick followed up: "What do you do during those 90 seconds that youre off the court?"

"Im with my staff, so Im focused on my plays," Nakase said.

Golden States public relations staff then moved to the next reporter. OutKick did not get an opportunity to ask why those preparations needed to happen during the anthem rather than before or afterward.

Valkyries forward Gabby Williams denied that Golden States absence was a protest.

"No," Williams said.

Asked why the team was off the court, she responded: "Thats been the routine for like, seven years now."

A Valkyries public relations representative then said, "Next question."

Golden State is in its second season. Williams previously played for Chicago and Seattle, but did not explain whether each team followed the same routine.

OUTKICK READERS BLAST WNBA PLAYERS FOR HIDING DURING FINALS NATIONAL ANTHEM

Atlanta coach Karl Smesko offered less detail when asked why his team left the court and whose decision it was.

"Were just kind of focused on the Finals," Smesko said.

Asked whether he had any further comment about the anthem and his teams absences, he said, "No."

Dream guard Rhyne Howard was asked about over their anthem conduct during the WNBA season.

"I dont think Ive been on the floor for the national anthem for any of my tenure in Atlanta, so if thats what people are gonna look to nitpick for then so be it," Howard said.

"But as far as competing for your team, when I go put on USA jersey Im out for the national anthem every time, theres no doubt