What happened: Yahoo Sports reported that the WNBA suspended enforcement of its official rule governing player presence for the national anthem. Both Finals rosters exited the floor prior to the pregame performance and returned for tipoff, prompting criticism from commentator Sage Steele.

Why it matters: Players first began remaining off the floor during pregame ceremonies in 2020. As the league moves into the 2027 offseason, formal game-operations rules and player pregame conduct continue to draw scrutiny during marquee broadcasts.

What to watch: Any formal updates to the league operations manual would be addressed before the 2027 WNBA season tips off.