ATLANTA — The Atlanta Dream have voiced frustration over the handling of the WNBA Finals schedule, saying their concerns about securing a suitable venue and avoiding conflicts with NBA games were not given the attention they deserved.
In an open letter to the city of Atlanta, the Dream said moving Game 6 of the Finals to a 12:30 p.m. ET start on Thursday was not the outcome the organization had pushed for. The game, originally scheduled for 8 p.m., was moved to State Farm Arena, home of the Atlanta Hawks, to accommodate a larger crowd.
The change gives more fans an opportunity to watch the championship series in person, but it also means many viewers may struggle to attend because of work and other daytime commitments.
Venue Change Forces Finals Schedule Adjustments
The Dream have played their home games throughout this postseason at State Farm Arena, which holds approximately 17,000 spectators. Their regular home venue, Gateway Center Arena, has a capacity of around 3,500.
With the Finals drawing significant interest, State Farm Arena offered a much larger setting for the championship games. However, sharing the building with the Hawks created scheduling challenges.
To make room for Thursday's Game 6, Atlanta's NBA matchup against the Cleveland Cavaliers was pushed back one hour to 8 p.m. ET. The Hawks' game last Saturday was also moved to 8:30 p.m. to accommodate Game 4 of the WNBA Finals.
All three Finals games played in Atlanta have required changes to the arena schedule.
In their letter, the Dream acknowledged their attachment to Gateway Center Arena but emphasized the importance of giving supporters a chance to experience the championship series in a larger venue.
The organization wrote that it believed fans and the city wanted to be part of the historic series on a major stage, making State Farm Arena the preferred choice.
Dream Say Scheduling Concerns Were Raised Months Earlier
The Atlanta organization said it raised potential scheduling conflicts approximately two months before the playoffs, including dates that could overlap with NBA games at State Farm Arena.
According to the letter, the Dream continued to highlight those concerns as the postseason progressed, but the team believes the issues did not receive an appropriate level of attention or urgency.
The 2026 WNBA playoff dates had reportedly been distributed internally to teams on December 4, 2025.
Over the weekend, the WNBA, Dream, Golden State Valkyries, Hawks, NBA and broadcast partners worked through different options to determine how best to accommodate everyone involved.
Keeping Game 6 in its original primetime window was considered, but scheduling limitations complicated the process. Both the Hawks and Cavaliers had games on Wednesday night, preventing them from moving their Thursday matchup into an earlier time slot.
The final decision was to hold Game 6 at State Farm Arena on Thursday afternoon.
Coach Karl Smesko Disappointed Some Fans May Miss Game 6
Dream head coach Karl Smesko expressed concern that the earlier start would prevent some supporters from attending or watching the game live.
Speaking before Game 5 in San Francisco, Smesko said he hoped as many people as possible would find a way to watch, while acknowledging that a weekday afternoon tipoff would not work for everyone.
Fans with regular work schedules could face particular difficulties making it to the arena by 12:30 p.m. ET.
WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert, meanwhile, described the sellout crowds and atmosphere at State Farm Arena during Games 3 and 4 as a success.
In a statement Monday, Engelbert said the earlier start would allow thousands more fans to experience a championship game in person. She also thanked the NBA, both WNBA teams, the Hawks, State Farm Arena and USA Network for working together to make the change possible.
The league is hoping the larger venue will deliver another memorable Finals atmosphere despite the scheduling controversy.
Valkyries Fans Face an Early Start on the West Coast
The revised schedule presents a different challenge for Golden State supporters.
With Game 6 beginning at 12:30 p.m. in Atlanta, the game will tip off at 9:30 a.m. Pacific Time in California. Valkyries players Kiah Stokes and Veronica Burton encouraged fans to consider calling in sick to watch the championship matchup.
Head coach Natalie Nakase also expressed confidence that Golden State supporters would find ways to follow the game, regardless of the early start.
The timing could make it difficult for some fans to watch from home or gather with others during the morning, particularly those with work commitments.
Dream Players Focused on the Championship
Despite the dispute over scheduling, Atlanta's players have largely treated the start time as a secondary concern as they prepare for Game 6.
Allisha Gray, Jordin Canada and Angel Reese have emphasized the importance of the championship opportunity rather than the hour at which the game will be played.
Gray made the Dream's position clear, saying the team would be ready regardless of whether the game started early in the morning or late at night.
For Atlanta, the immediate priority remains winning Game 6 and pursuing the championship in front of its home supporters.
The scheduling debate highlights the logistical challenges that can arise when major professional leagues share arenas during overlapping seasons. While the move to State Farm Arena creates more seating capacity, the afternoon tipoff leaves the Dream balancing the opportunity to welcome a larger crowd with concerns about accessibility for some fans.
With the championship on the line, both teams will now turn their attention to the court, even as questions remain about how the Finals schedule was handled.
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