San Francisco — Dream, Valkyries Leave Court Before Anthem

Both the Atlanta Dream and the Golden State Valkyries left the court before the national anthem ahead of Game 1 of the WNBA Finals, then returned within seconds of the song ending, according to OutKick, the Fox News sports vertical that first reported the sequence from Chase Center in San Francisco.

What happened before Game 1 tipped off?

OutKick reported that both benches cleared the floor ahead of the performance of the "Star-Spangled Banner" before tipoff of Game 1 of the WNBA Finals at Chase Center, the Valkyries' home arena. The outlet's headline and video description state that both teams returned "seconds later," while the accompanying article text estimates the teams were gone for "roughly two minutes." The discrepancy between "seconds" and "roughly two minutes" was not reconciled in the available report, and HTT News could not independently verify the exact duration.

How long were both teams off the court?

The precise length of the absence is not pinned down in the sourcing available to HTT News. OutKick's own framing varies within the same report, citing both an abrupt return and a window of about two minutes. Readers should treat the timing as approximate pending a clearer account or video timestamp from the broadcast.

Why did players leave before the anthem?

The motivation behind the walkoff was not detailed in the portion of OutKick's report available for review. No statement from the Dream, the Valkyries, the WNBA, or any player was included in the sourcing reviewed by HTT News. Absent that attribution, this report does not speculate on intent.

What else is confirmed about Game 1?

The game was Game 1 of the WNBA Finals, played at Chase Center in San Francisco, the home venue for the Valkyries. OutKick's report, bylined by Dan Zaksheske, was published October 17, 2026. No final score, attendance figure, or broadcast audience data appeared in the material reviewed.

What's next in the WNBA Finals?

The series continues beyond Game 1, though scheduling details for subsequent games were not included in the reviewed reporting. HTT News will update this account if the league, either team, or additional reporting clarifies the sequence around the anthem.

What to watch

• Whether the WNBA, the Dream, or the Valkyries issue any explanation for the pregame sequence.
• Confirmation of the exact time both teams spent off the court — "seconds" versus "roughly two minutes" per the original report.
• The final score and any other developments from Game 1 at Chase Center.
• Scheduling and venue details for the next game in the Finals.

This account relies on a single published report. HTT News found no independent corroboration of the walkoff's cause or exact duration at the time of publication and will revise this story if additional sourcing becomes available.

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