Atlanta Dream say Finals scheduling warnings went unheeded before afternoon Game 6
The Dream say they raised concerns about arena conflicts months before Thursday’s WNBA Finals game was moved to a 12:30 p.m. ET start in Atlanta.
The Atlanta Dream say they warned of potential WNBA playoff scheduling conflicts at State Farm Arena months before their Finals Game 6 against the Golden State Valkyries was set for 12:30 p.m. ET on Thursday, October 29. According to ESPN, the Dream said their concerns went unheeded as the teams prepared for a game that could decide the championship.
In an open letter, the Dream said they raised concerns about playoff dates overlapping with Atlanta Hawks games at the arena two months earlier and repeated them as the playoffs progressed. ‘Our concerns did not receive the attention, nor the urgency that they deserved,’ the team wrote, according to ESPN. The letter did not identify the recipients or detail each warning, leaving unclear how the concerns were handled.
Why Game 6 starts at 12:30 p.m. ET
Game 6 was originally scheduled for 8 p.m. ET. It was moved to an afternoon start so the Dream could play at State Farm Arena, which seats roughly 17,000, rather than their usual Gateway Center Arena, which holds about 3,500, ESPN reported. Atlanta has played all its home postseason games at the larger venue. The Hawks are due to host the Cleveland Cavaliers there on Thursday night; their game was pushed back one hour to 8 p.m. ET.
The venue decision had already prompted an earlier NewsJaws report on the Game 6 schedule. The Dream’s letter adds the team’s account of warnings before the conflict became immediate. CNBC reported that the Dream thanked the Hawks and State Farm Arena for adjusting their schedules three times during the Finals, while saying a Thursday midday game was neither what they chose nor what they fought for.
How the league and teams settled on the arena
ESPN reported that the WNBA, Dream, Valkyries, Hawks, NBA and broadcast partners negotiated over the weekend. The leagues explored keeping Game 6 in prime time, but the Hawks and Cavaliers both play Wednesday night and could not take an earlier Thursday slot, according to ESPN. The outlet also reported, citing sources, that the 2026 playoff dates had been sent internally to teams on December 4, 2025.
WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert said sellout crowds at State Farm Arena for Games 3 and 4 showed the benefit of the larger venue. She said the Game 6 arrangement would let thousands more fans attend and thanked the teams, leagues, arena and broadcaster for making it possible. Dream coach Karl Smesko acknowledged the cost of the afternoon start: some supporters would be working and unable to attend, ESPN reported.
The Dream said they wanted Atlanta fans to experience the Finals at State Farm Arena despite the difficult time slot. Golden State leads the series 3-2 entering Thursday’s game, ESPN reported, so a Valkyries win would end the series while a Dream win would extend it.
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Sources and context
- Dream say concerns over finding available WNBA Finals venue went unheededESPN (original reporting)
- Flavor Flav, Hillary Clinton weigh in as WNBA takes flak for weekday lunchtime finals gameCNBC
AI-assisted article checked against the listed sources. NewsJaws did not conduct interviews or attend the reported events.