In a repeat of their display in the first game of the WNBA Finals, neither team participating in the championship series was on the floor when the national anthem played in Game 2.
Minutes before The Star Spangled Banner was sung by Alanis Morissette, the players for the Golden State Valkyries and Atlanta Dream were shown heading to the locker room.
After the ‘Ironic’ songstress performed the piece, both teams returned to the floor seconds later.
It’s not exactly clear what led to the two teams leaving the court, however, this is not the first time this has happened this year.
But, according to the league’s official rulebook, players are required to stand and line up during the performance.
The Daily Mail has contacted the WNBA for comment on this issue and asked if the teams could face punishment for their display.
Atlanta Dream and Golden State Valkyries players left the court for the national anthem
Video showed that no players were on the court as the anthem was performed
Fans on social media expressed their anger at the players – with some even suggesting the players should be attacked for their choice.
‘Why is the WNBA getting any publicity at this point? The end of this season can’t happen soon enough,’ wrote one user on X.
Another said, ‘Second straight game. Same WNBA. Same disgraceful behaviour.’
One user suggested the players should be ‘pelted with the green dildoes when they return to the court.’
This is not the first time this season the Dream have walked off the court for the anthem. The team has not explicitly explained their reason for doing so previously this season.
The Dream do have a history with staying off the court for the anthem dating back to previous seasons as well. In 2020, the team protested the anthem at the height of the George Floyd protests and included messaging from the WNBPA in their game notes to explain their reasons.
Their statement said that ‘the anthem does not represent freedom, justice and liberty for all Americans’.
It’s important to note that no one on this year’s Dream roster was a member of the roster in 2020.
When the players returned, Atlanta star Angel Reese made history in a win to tie the series
As for the game itself, Angel Reese and the Dream managed to even the series at 1-1 with a 79-65 win over Golden State.
Reese became the third player in WNBA history with at least 30 points and 15 rebounds in a Finals game with her 30-point, 16 board performance.
The series will now shift to Atlanta for Game 3, which takes place on Wednesday.
