The Aporia · Valkyries and Dream ditch National Anthem for second game in a row during WNBA Finals

Valkyries and Dream ditch National Anthem for second game in a row during WNBA Finals

Read the original at New York Post ↗

Cite

APA MLA Chicago

Murray, T. L. (2026, October 20). Valkyries and Dream ditch National Anthem for second game in a row during WNBA Finals. New York Post. https://nypost.com/2026/10/19/sports/valkyries-and-dream-skip-national-anthem-for-second-game-in-a-row-during-wnba-finals/

Dated from the outlet's own feed. Check the original for its byline.

Quick Summary

During Game 2 of the WNBA Finals between the Golden State Valkyries and the Atlanta Dream, players from both teams left the court before the National Anthem was played, a second consecutive occurrence in this year’s Finals. While the reason for their absence remains unclear, Dan Zaksheske reported that the teams quickly returned to play after the anthem ended. This action follows previous statements from the Dream in 2020 questioning the anthem's representation of American freedoms. The decision has drawn criticism online with some fans expressing disdain towards the players' actions and questioning their patriotism.

Written locally by qwen2.5:14b on 2026-10-20, using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the same event (that is the story summary below).

AI analysis runs on qwen2.5:14b, locally

Story summary

On Monday night in Game 2 of the WNBA Finals, both the Atlanta Dream and Golden State Valkyries skipped the national anthem ceremony for the second consecutive game. The teams left the court less than a minute before the performance started and returned mere seconds after it ended. This action violates the league’s rulebook which mandates players to stand and line up during the anthem. Despite multiple inquiries from OutKick, neither team provided reasons for their absence. The WNBA has not issued any disciplinary actions or statements regarding this behavior.

Written for “WNBA Finals National Anthem Controversy” on 2026-10-20, grounded in this article and the 1 other(s) covering the same event.

Why this leaning score

The model judged this article politically coded and scored it +0.35, but all 2 of its quote(s) are attributed speech - words the article quotes from someone, not the article's own narration, so the score is not published.

Written under an earlier scoring contract, which gave a paragraph rather than checkable quotes. Re-analysing this article replaces it.

Leaning score withheld for article 92335: attributed speech only · logged 2026-10-20

Compared with similar articles

This article reads unscored and hedges 9% of its claims. Each row says how that neighbour differs.

Dream and Valkyries skip national anthem again in WNBA Finals Game 2 despite rulebook requirement same event · 100%

Fox News · 0.92 cosine similarity

⚖️ Leans right 🔴 0% hedged 0 of 19 📰 publisher trust 67

“Both articles describe the exact same incident of the Atlanta Dream and Golden State Valkyries skipping the national anthem before Game 2 of the WNBA Finals on the same date.”

Valkryies, Dream head for locker room during national anthem ahead of WNBA Finals Game 1 thriller different event · 95%

New York Post

⚖️ leaning not scored 🔴 7% hedged 1 of 14 📰 publisher trust 66

“The articles describe different games within the WNBA Finals series where both teams left for the locker room during the national anthem, but they are not referring to the exact same game based on their dates.”

Angel Reese scores 30 as Dream stun Valkyries to go level in WNBA Finals different event · 95%

Al Jazeera

⚖️ leaning not scored 🔴 4% hedged 1 of 25 📰 publisher trust 60

“Article A describes the teams' decision to leave before the National Anthem, while Article B reports on the actual game play and scoring details of Game 2 in the WNBA Finals.”

Dream and Valkyries leave court for national anthem, return seconds later at WNBA Finals different event · 85%

Fox News · 0.89 cosine similarity

⚖️ leaning not scored 🔴 0% hedged 0 of 18 📰 publisher trust 67

“The articles describe different occurrences during consecutive games of the WNBA Finals, not a single incident.”

Grow up, WNBA — enough with the National Anthem boycott different event · 80%

New York Post

⚖️ Leans strongly right 🔴 10% hedged 1 of 10 📰 publisher trust 66

“The articles describe different games; Article A refers to Game 1 on Sunday while Article B discusses Game 2 on Monday.”

Signals How these are calculated →

Claims extracted

sentences that state something as happening or true

Uncertain

1 of 11 hedged ("reportedly", "may", "according to")

Leaning

withheld

no quote in the article backed the model's score

Publisher signals

66/100

New York Post's corrections and hedging, across everything collected from it. Not a measure of accuracy.

Outlets on this story

Sports

Same framing elsewhere

articles that frame the event the way this one does

Who wrote this

Thomas L. Murray

130 article(s) here · 1 carrying a prediction

🔮 Juszczyk found out about his fine on September, 24. when he received a letter from the league that claimed his celebration “constituted an offensive demonstration and could reasonably be construed as being in poor taste.”

2026-10-20 · assertive framing · Video surfaces of Bills star taking a beer from Raiders fan in wild celebration

🔮 As the reason why the players continue to ditch the anthem remains a mystery and will develop, the Valkyries are looking to get their first WNBA title in their second year as a franchise.

2026-10-20 · assertive framing · Valkyries and Dream ditch National Anthem for second game in a row during WNBA Finals

🔮 After rolling on the ground, completing the grab, he could be seen grabbing at his Achilles.

2026-10-20 · assertive framing · 49ers’ Mike Evans exits Monday Night Football with non-contact injury

🔮 Kerr went ahead and confirmed that Curry will be playing when the team opens its season on the road against the Los Angeles Lakers on Wednesday.

2026-10-20 · assertive framing · Mike Evans pays tribute to Warriors legend ahead of Monday Night Football game against Commanders

🔮 After Sunday’s 18-16 loss to the Arizona Cardinals, Rams running back Kyren Williams voiced his frustration towards the team’s offense, which resulted in him accidentally taking a shot at head coach Sean McVay.

2026-10-20 · assertive framing · Sean McVay addresses Kyren Williams elephant in room after dejected running back’s reaction

🔮 According to Michael Duarte of The California Post, Garrett will not be playing in the team’s Week 7 game against the Las Vegas Raiders.

2026-10-19 · assertive framing · Rams get disheartening Myles Garrett news after slew of injuries to stars

🔮 For the second week in a row, the Los Angeles Rams will have to find a new kicker.

2026-10-19 · assertive framing · Rams special teams takes another massive hit with tragic injury news to newly-signed kicker

🔮 Both Jimmy Butler and Kristaps Porzingis won’t be available for the season opener as Butler is returning from a torn ACL and is expected to return to action around late January or early February next year.

2026-10-19 · assertive framing · Warriors coach gives crucial update on Stephen Curry injury sure to catch Lakers fans attention

🔮 Staying healthy will be key for the Warriors this season, as the team will already begin the season dealing with injuries, as they will be without Kristaps Porzingis and Jimmy Butler.

2026-10-19 · assertive framing · Warriors get Steph Curry injury scare days before season opener against Lakers

🔮 After the Rams fell to 2-4 following an 18-16 loss to the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday, Rams running back Kyren Williams didn’t hold back from calling out his playing time.

2026-10-19 · assertive framing · Kyren Williams sounds off after Rams’ season takes another ugly turn

Also by Thomas L. Murray

Video surfaces of Bills star taking a beer from Raiders fan in wild celebration

2026-10-20 · New York Post

49ers’ Mike Evans exits Monday Night Football with non-contact injury

2026-10-20 · New York Post

Mike Evans pays tribute to Warriors legend ahead of Monday Night Football game against Commanders

2026-10-20 · New York Post

Sean McVay addresses Kyren Williams elephant in room after dejected running back’s reaction

2026-10-20 · New York Post

Nothing else under this byline is closely related to this article, so these are simply their most recent.

All 130 articles by Thomas L. Murray →

Claims (11 extracted, 1 hedged)

Just minutes before pop singer Alanis Morrisette sang the National Anthem for Game 2 of the WNBA Finals, players of the Valkyries and Dream were seen going to the locker room. asserted

players → sing → room

Monday’s decision to leave before the National Anthem was played was the second time during the Finals that the two teams opted out. Dan Zaksheske, who is a reporter for Outkick/Fox News, reported that the two teams immediately returned to the court, just seconds after it was finished being played. asserted

it → leave → court

The reason why the two teams are not staying for the national anthem continues to be unknown, but this isn’t the first time the Atlanta organization has protested it, as the team issued a statement in 2020 saying, “the anthem does not represent freedom, justice and liberty for all Americans.” asserted

anthem → stay → Americans

According to the WNBA’s official rulebook, players are required to stand and line up during the performance. uncertain

players → accord → performance

Since the two teams have not been participating in the event, they have both been heavily scrutinized for it. asserted

they → participate → it

@Madeintaylor responded to Outkick’s post of the teams leaving during the song and said, “Why do people watch this awful garbage!” asserted

people → respond → garbage

Another WNBA fan, @Jeni41671 commented, “The @WNBA and the players and staff on @GSValkyriesHub and @AtlantaDream. asserted

fan → comment → @GSValkyriesHub

Hate the US Military – only logical reason why they can’t stand respectfully giving thanks for the best country in the world thanks to their dedication and sacrifice for all of us. asserted

they → hate → us

As the reason why the players continue to ditch the anthem remains a mystery and will develop, the Valkyries are looking to get their first WNBA title in their second year as a franchise. asserted

Valkyries → continue → franchise

Golden State took Game 1 of the series when they scored 17 points in the fourth quarter, helping them secure a 68-64 victory. asserted

them → take → victory

Valkyries star Gabby Williams shined when the lights were brightest with a 26-point performance, where she had four rebounds and two assists. asserted

she → shin → rebounds

Valkyries and Dream ditch National Anthem for second game in a row during WNBA Finals

Quick Summary

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Claims (11 extracted, 1 hedged)