Atlanta Dream Owners Criticize Midday Game 6 Slot, Say Scheduling Concerns Were Ignored

The Atlanta Dream's ownership group issued an open letter to the city and the team's fans on Tuesday, objecting to the decision to play Game 6 of the 2026 WNBA Finals at 12:30 p.m. ET on Thursday. The game is a must-win for the Dream.

The owners wrote that they raised concerns about possible conflicts at State Farm Arena two months ago, when the league finalized playoff dates and times, and repeated them as the postseason went on. According to the letter, those worries "did not receive the attention, nor the urgency that they deserved." They added that a midday Thursday game is "not what we would have chosen and not what we fought for."

The root of the problem is venue size. The Dream normally play at Gateway Center Arena, the smallest in the league with a capacity of 3,500. That is far from ideal for a playoff game, let alone a Finals contest, so the team has played all five of its postseason games at State Farm Arena, a 17,000-seat building that is also home to the NBA's Atlanta Hawks.

Sharing the building has forced repeated changes. A Sombr concert and a Hawks game created conflicts, so Game 3 was shifted from Oct. 22 to Oct. 21. Game 4 was moved up to 1 p.m. ET to allow a doubleheader with the Hawks' game against the Houston Rockets, which was pushed back to 8 p.m.

Game 6 brought another clash, since the Hawks are also scheduled at home on both Wednesday and Thursday this week. With no good alternatives, the league chose an afternoon start so the game could stay in the larger arena.

In the letter, the owners thanked fans for their patience and said the city would again fill the building "on a workday. On a school day. In the early afternoon." They also thanked the Hawks and State Farm Arena for adjusting their schedule on the fly three times. The owners suggested the league may not have expected the Dream to get this far, writing, "Perhaps it was assumed that the Dream would not make it this far." They stated that the team "has earned the right to be taken seriously" and said they expect the planning and consideration given to the team to match its level of competition.

The timing has drawn wider criticism, including from CBS Sports' Lindsay Gibbs. The game would tip off at lunchtime in Atlanta and early in the morning in San Francisco, home of the opposing Valkyries.

There may be further logistical complications. The arena must be cleared quickly to prepare for the Hawks' game against the Cleveland Cavaliers, now set for 8 p.m. ET. If the Valkyries win and clinch their first championship, ESPN reported, their celebration could be moved to a practice gym rather than taking place on the court, as is tradition.