The Atlanta Dream and Golden State Valkyries were off the court for the national anthem before Saturday’s Game 4 of the WNBA Finals at State Farm Arena, marking their fourth straight absence in the series.
asserted
Dream → mark → series
Some fans also remained seated during the performance, including spectators who kept their hats on.
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who → remain → hats
I attempted to observe what Atlanta’s players do after leaving the court, but arena staff told me my credential did not grant access to that area and escorted me back to my assigned media seat.
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credential → attempt → seat
An employee inside State Farm Arena told OutKick that Dream players stand in a hallway after leaving the court before games.
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players → tell → games
OutKick asked the Dream to confirm whether players remain there during the national anthem and explain what they do during the performance.
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they → ask → performance
The team did not immediately respond.
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team → respond → ?
Players from both teams said Friday that staying off the court during the anthem has been their practice for years.
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staying → say → years
In the first three games, both teams left shortly before the anthem and returned seconds after it ended.
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it → leave → anthem
Games 1 and 2 were played at Chase Center in San Francisco on Oct. 17 and 19.
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Games → play → Oct.
The series moved to Atlanta for Game 3 on Oct. 21.
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series → move → Oct.
Atlanta entered Saturday with a 2–1 lead in the best-of-seven series after winning Wednesday’s Game 3, 97–71.
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Atlanta → enter → Game
The anthem absences have drawn criticism from President Donald Trump, who urged fans to stop watching the WNBA at an Oct. 22 rally in Iowa.
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who → draw → Iowa
Vice President JD Vance also called the absences "disgraceful."
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Vance → call → absences
Atlanta coach Karl Smesko declined to explain the absences
Atlanta coach Karl Smesko was asked Friday why his team left the floor for the anthem and whose decision that was.
"
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that → decline → anthem
We’re just kind of focused on the Finals," Smesko said.
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Smesko → say → Finals
Asked whether he had any further comment about the anthem and his team’s absences on the league’s biggest stage, Smesko said, "No."
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Smesko → ask → stage
An Atlanta public relations representative then moved to the next question.
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representative → move → question
Rhyne Howard responds to Team USA criticism
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Howard → respond → criticism
Dream guard Rhyne Howard was asked Friday about calls to exclude players from Team USA if they do not stand for the national anthem during the WNBA season.
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they → ask → season
Riley Gaines and former Georgia state Rep. Vernon Jones have argued that anthem conduct should carry consequences when athletes seek to represent the United States internationally.
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athletes → argue → States
"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," Howard said.
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Howard → think → what
"But as far as competing for your team, when I go put on USA jersey I’m out for the national anthem every time, there’s no doubt about it.
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I → compete → it
"
"Yes, I love the country that I play for and I love what we have here," she added.
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she → love → what
Howard and Dream teammate Angel Reese represented the United States at September’s FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup, where both stood for the anthem.
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both → represent → anthem
Golden State had no players on that U.S. roster, although Valkyries head coach Natalie Nakase served as an assistant coach.
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Nakase → have → coach
OutKick followed up with Howard: "Is there a reason you’re not on the court for the anthem?"
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you → follow → anthem
Howard and an Atlanta public relations representative both responded, "Next question."
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Howard → respond → question
Natalie Nakase explains what she does during the anthem
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she → explain → anthem
During Friday’s media availability in Atlanta, OutKick asked Nakase whose decision it was for Golden State to stay off the court and why.
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State → ask → court
"We’re two years in," Nakase said.
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Nakase → ’re → ?
Asked again who decided and why, she said, "I really don’t know."
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I → ask → ?
"I understand your question," Nakase added.
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Nakase → understand → question
"I’m not trying to, you know, not answer your question.
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you → try → question
It’s just part of our pregame."
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It → ’ → pregame
OutKick followed up: "What do you do during those 90 seconds that you’re off the court?"
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you → follow → court
"I’m with my staff, so I’m focused on my plays," Nakase said.
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Nakase → ’m → plays
Golden State’s public relations staff then moved to the next reporter.
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staff → move → reporter
OutKick did not get an opportunity to ask why those preparations needed to happen during the anthem rather than before or afterward.
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preparations → get → anthem
Gabby Williams denies protest and cites a seven-year routine
OutKick also asked Valkyries forward Gabby Williams whether the anthem absences are meant as a protest.
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absences → deny → protest
"No," she said.
asserted
she → say → ?
…and 24 more, not listed.
The Aporia
