# WNBA Teams Skip Anthem Amid Finals Debate

> WNBA teams skip national anthem during Finals as league faces policy questions.
- Title: WNBA Teams Skip Anthem Amid Finals Debate · EssentiallySports
- Summary: WNBA teams skip national anthem during Finals as league faces policy questions. WNBA teams skipped national anthem before Game 3 of Finals after years of…
- Keywords: wnba, golden state valkyries, atlanta dream, national anthem, wnba finals, championship series, league policy, pregame routine, sports, Teams, Skip, Anthem
- Source: EssentiallySports — https://essentiallysports.com/wnba-basketball-news-what-a-shame-ex-espn-host-calls-out-wnba-finals-anthem-controversy-as-players-face-questions-over-absence
- Author: Olutayo Inioluwa Emmanuel
- Published: 2026-10-21T16:35:06+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: wnba, golden state valkyries, atlanta dream, national anthem, wnba finals, championship series, league policy, pregame routine, sports
## WNBA Teams Absent for Anthem
The Golden State Valkyries and Atlanta Dream skipped the national anthem before the first two WNBA Finals games.
## Former ESPN Host Calls Out Policy
Linda Cohn urged the league to clarify anthem policy and said the controversy distracted from the championship series.
## Cohn's Reaction Video
Cohn said the players' absence was a shame and that fans should ask the league for an explanation before Game 3.

> We have a championship series tied at one. we have performances worth talking about. and we have adjustments to discuss and a huge game 3 coming wednesday. so, that’s a lot to sell. and yet, here we are spending part of this conversation asking why the players weren’t present for the anthem. what a shame. what a shame
## League Policy Clarification Needed
The WNBA suspended active enforcement of anthem protocols in 2017 after players supported racial justice demonstrations.
## Players' Tradition of Skipping Anthem
Many WNBA teams have skipped the anthem for six years to raise awareness or prepare for games.
## Game 3 Focus
All eyes will be on whether the teams skip the anthem again during Game 3 of the WNBA Finals.
## Key takeaway

WNBA teams skipped national anthem before Game 3 of Finals after years of tradition, sparking debate over league policy enforcement.