Golden State Valkyries leave court before national anthem in WNBA Finals

The Golden State Valkyries did not remain on the court during the playing of the national anthem before Games 1 and 2 of the WNBA championship series. This practice sparked questions among fans, especially those less familiar with the WNBA.

According to reporting by clickondetroit.com, it has been common for many WNBA teams over at least the past six seasons to leave the court about 10 minutes before the anthem as part of their pregame warmups. This timing coincides with the playing of 'The Star-Spangled Banner.'

Teams have left the court before the anthem as part of raising awareness for social justice issues, a practice consistent in the league for several years. This explains why the Golden State Valkyries and the Atlanta Dream were not visible during the anthem.

The decision to leave the court is a common practice among many WNBA teams and reflects the league's ongoing commitment to social causes during its championship events.