The Golden State Valkyries lined up yet another great singer to handle the national anthem during the 2026 WNBA Finals.
This time around it was Dinah Jane who sang “The Star-Spangled Banner” before Game 5 was played on Monday (Oct. 26) at Chase Center in San Francisco.
Jane, who is best known for her work in the platinum-plus-selling R&B/pop “girl group” Fifth Harmony, delivered a powerhouse rendition that drew massive cheers from the home crowd that filled “Ballhalla” to capacity in hopes of seeing the Valkyries take a commanding a lead in a series that was knotted up at 2-2 going into the game.
Jane, who is also a successful solo artist with a number of singles and EPs to her credit, was the latest in a strong run of national anthem singers at Chase during these WNBA Finals.
Goapele, an Oakland R&B/soul singer known for such albums as 2001’s “Closer,” 2002’s “Even Closer,” 2005’s “Change It All” and 2011’s “Break of Dawn,” handled the honors at Game 1.
Then at Game 2, Alanis Morissette — the hugely successful alt-rock act known for “Jagged Little Pill,” the landmark 1995 outing that ranks as one of the top-selling albums in history — sang the anthem.
The national anthem has drawn much attention during these WNBA playoffs, with many people complaining — especially online — about it being disrespectful for the two teams to leave the court while the song is being sung. The teams were once again not on the court during while the anthem was performed on Monday.
Even President Trump has chimed in about the controversy.
This practice is nothing new in the WNBA, and for these two teams, but it has obviously has drawn way more eyeballs than usual during the Finals.