Story perspectives

WNBA Finals: Trump Slams Anthem Walkouts as Valkyries Win

By Drooid · Oct 24, 2026, 10:44 PM UTC · How we work

Summary

Trump Condemns Walkouts

Atlanta Dream and Golden State Valkyries left the floor during the anthem before Games 1-4 of the 2026 WNBA Finals.
WNBA rules require anthem standing despite enforcement suspension since 2017.
President Donald Trump called the walkouts ‘disgraceful’ and warned the league could ‘destroy itself’.
Angel Reese became the youngest Finals player with 30 points and 16 rebounds.

Summary

Stokes Sets Block Record

Stokes set a Finals record with 14 blocks in the first four games, surpassing Griner and Fowles.
Coach Natalie Nakase started Tiffany Hayes and Kaila Charles, replacing Kayla Thornton and Cecilia Zandalasini.
Golden State’s aggressive offensive-board crashing sparked an 18-6 run that erased a 42-26 halftime deficit.
The Valkyries limited turnovers, denying Atlanta easy points that had powered its earlier wins.

History

Historical Context

In August 2016, NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick began kneeling during the national anthem, sparking a nationwide sports protest movement. The NFL reported a 20% drop in viewership that season, while the Players Association filed a grievance on Kaepernick’s behalf. Similarly, in the 2026 WNBA Finals, the Atlanta Dream and Golden State Valkyries walked off the anthem, prompting President Donald Trump to label it disgraceful. The recurrence underscores how anthem protests now shape league policies and public discourse, foreshadowing intensified political scrutiny of women's professional sports.

1 of 3

Trump Condemns Walkouts

Atlanta Dream and Golden State Valkyries left the floor during the anthem before Games 1-4 of the 2026 WNBA Finals.
WNBA rules require anthem standing despite enforcement suspension since 2017.
President Donald Trump called the walkouts ‘disgraceful’ and warned the league could ‘destroy itself’.
Angel Reese became the youngest Finals player with 30 points and 16 rebounds.

1 / 3