Rules for thee, not for me.
Monday night in San Francisco, for the second consecutive game of the WNBA Finals, the Atlanta Dream and Golden State Valkyries stepped off the court before the national anthem and then immediately returned to the court after Canadian-born Alanis Morissette finished her performance.
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The spineless league hasn’t said a word despite the women continuing to break an anthem rulebook provision that requires them to attend the performance. Now that we’ve reported, it’s time for you guys to react and share your feelings on this drama that isn’t going away.
WNBA SILENT AFTER FINALS TEAMS SKIP NATIONAL ANTHEM DESPITE RULE REQUIRING PLAYERS TO STAND AND LINE UP
Let’s do this.
OutKick readers weigh in on how the anthem situation should be handled:
• UNLV Doc has some deep thoughts to share: WNBA types and political sycophants probably think they’re rebels, and they are. But they are rebelling against order and creation in favor of chaos, which is always the easy way to mindlessly effect change, and what the selfish have always done. Honorable rebels take a stand, work, and sacrifice, even against self-interest to bravely bring about something other than the chaos that naturally exists without applied effort to create something good. I’m looking forward to seeing such leaders emerge from the WNBA mob; I know they’re in there somewhere.
• Richard C. sent in this great take: How about a double disqualification and no champion recognized this year.
• Carmen has hit a breaking point: I love Daily Outkick and I hate the WNBA and everyday it’s just funny to read and move on. It’s not that funny anymore. The WNBA has failed women. As a female coach, I do my best to build strong, confident, capable, athletes who happen to be females. They are held to a standard that doesn’t include entitlement, excuses, or any agenda other than TEAM.
The WNBA is about anything but sport, and that is inexcusable for so many young women pursuing professional sports. Pushing themselves to another level to achieve their goals. It’s embarrassing that this is women’s professional basketball when so few hold themselves to that level. It’s a soap opera that deserves zero attention.
As an organization that is supposed to promote the best in women’s sport, it’s become laughable. It’s a joke that has a played out punchline. You have failed those you are supposed to be a trailblazer for. When athletic performance is secondary to everything else, you have failed as a league.
Alanis Morissette signs the national anthem before Game 2 of the WNBA Finals between the Golden State Valkyries and the Atlanta Dream at Chase Center in San Francisco on Monday, Oct. 19, 2026. (San Francisco Chronicle via Getty Images)
• Pops makes a good point: The WNBA proves once again they are a political activist organization not a women’s basketball organization. They decide what rules they want to enforce and what rules they will not enforce.
• Kenneth is fed up: Well I have an answer. If the WNBA had any balls (which they don’t) both teams would be banned from playing the game and all players suspended indefinitely. If you can’t attend and stand for the national anthem of the country that has given you everything then you have no business being here.
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• Mark S. sends a message to WNBA executives: What a crock. The league is a farce and an embarrassment to our country, not thier country. Fine them all. This is not a political forum it is a game and rules are rules. Enough of the lesbian leaque and who wnba management listen to. Stand up and control your players or get rid of them Set an example.
• Mike Mc. says: The WNBA is a sideshow of awkward misfits playing a child’s game poorly. It’s no surprise that they do dumb things, but it is surprising that any discerning “fan” pays attention to this collection of grumpy malcontents. On second thought, if you had any discernment, you wouldn’t be a fan. Problem solved.
Mascot Violet of the Golden State Valkyries before Game Two of the 2026 WNBA Finals on Oct. 19, 2026, at Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif. (NBAE via Getty Images)
• Joe B. wants the WNBA to take a hike: Remove the entire league from USA arenas. Sell the entire group to Europe, Asia or a South America country. Who needs these disrespectful ingrates playing here?
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• Don says enough is enough: Why are we continually putting up with the WNBA? They have proven they are a league that continually cares only about themselves and no one or nothing else.The league fails to react to any of the players who disobey the rules. They have tried to turn this into a racial bias league. I think i am done.
• Gary says punish them for breaking the rules: This is just another example of disrespect for our nation and should not go unpunished by the league. Actions should have consequences.
• Richard S. tells us: Stop giving the anti American league any more print.
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• Michael M. emails: I think all the international players should be deported for not respecting the American flag and National Anthem and all the lesbians be disbarred from playing in the WNBA.
• Jerry has a simple message: Real Americans don’t watch this trash anyway.
Angel Reese #5 of the Atlanta Dream goes up for the opening tip off against the Golden State Valkyries during Game 2 of the WNBA Finals on Oct. 19, 2026, at Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif. (NBAE via Getty Images)
Here’s a sampling of other comments posted to our WNBA anthem coverage:
- It’s like this league/teams/players go out of their way to make people not like them. I’ve never seen a major sports or entertainment franchise so hell bent as this one to be as unappealing to the public at large as this one. It’s quite amazing.
- Disgusting. But as a private organization I guess the players can do what they want…. as can I. I immediately changed the channel. I won’t watch that baloney. We don’t need another France.
- Once could be a mix up. Twice in a row is INTENTIONAL! The coaches, the players, and the owners should be fined.
- Fine each team $250,000 for this offense. Third offense $350,000 each. Fourth offense each team gets one game forfeited. Get serious WNBA! This is a disgrace.
- The WNBA finally has a shot at gaining traction and instead of embracing it, they seem determined to throw it away.
- This aligns with the sickness of our culture – lack of gratitude. the fact that a person can kneel during the national anthem is reason to stand for it. That alone, we should be grateful.
- It is amazing to watch an organization “Bud-Light” themselves. They already can’t support themselves. They have to be subsidized by the NBA. I don’t see much of a future for the WNBA.
