WNBA Finals Coaches Explain Why Teams Left the Court During National Anthem Performance

WNBA Finals coaches offered few clear answers when questioned about why their teams have continued leaving the court during the national anthem.

Players from both the Atlanta Dream and Golden State Valkyries have remained in their locker rooms during performances of “The Star-Spangled Banner” throughout the championship series.

The move has triggered anger among some fans and attracted criticism from Donald Trump, who warned that the league could “destroy themselves before they get started.”

With Game 4 scheduled for Saturday night, Dream coach Karl Smesko and Valkyries coach Natalie Nakase were both asked to explain the teams’ decision to leave the court.

Speaking to OutKick, Nakase said: ‘We’re two years in, that’s been part of our pregame. So that’s been our focus. We do our pregame the way we decided to do it. 

Nakase said the Valkyries were concentrating on the game rather than the surrounding debate, explaining: “As I just mentioned, we are locked in, focused on the details, learning from our losses and working out how we can improve to make sure we win Game 4.”

Asked who made the final call for Golden State to be away from the court, Nakase replied: “I really don’t know. I understand your question, and I’m not trying to avoid answering it—it’s simply part of our pregame routine.”

Smesko gave an equally brief response when the issue was raised with him, saying: “We’re just focused on the Finals and preparing to beat Golden State.”

The Atlanta coach declined to elaborate.

Dream guard and U.S. national team player Rhyne Howard also faced questions about the controversy, but played down the attention surrounding the teams’ absence from the court.

“Are we only talking about these three games, or the entire season?” Howard said. “I don’t think I’ve been on the floor for the national anthem during my entire tenure in Atlanta.”

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She added: “If that’s what people want to nitpick, then so be it. But when it comes to competing for my team, whenever I put on a USA jersey, I’m on the court for the national anthem every time. There’s no question about that.”

“Yes, I love the country I play for and I love what we have here,” Howard continued. “But I don’t think that’s what people need to be talking about.”

The WNBA’s official rulebook states that players must stand and line up during the national anthem.

Despite that requirement, players from both teams have appeared to disregard the rule during the Finals.

Before Game 3 in Atlanta, the two squads were seen heading back toward their locker rooms shortly before Q Parker performed “The Star-Spangled Banner.”

Trump addressed the incident at a Republican rally in Iowa on Thursday night, asking: “By the way, what’s going on with the Women’s NBA? What’s that all about?”

Those in attendance booed as he continued: ‘You know, they’ll destroy themselves before they get started. Because they just started to do good.’

The boos briefly turned to cheers as he referenced former Iowa college stand-out Caitlin Clark, now with the Indiana Fever, and her role in the league’s growth, stating: ‘And you have a player here who was very good, very helpful to that.’

Trump then continued, suggesting the league should take warning from the backlash the NFL faced when Colin Kaepernick led a wave of anthem protests in 2016. 

‘No, it’s a big deal going on,’ he added. ‘They leave the court when the national anthems play. What’s that all about? 

‘You know, the NFL did that for a while and they stopped because people stopped watching the games. So I think you should do the same thing with women’s basketball.’