The Atlanta Dream will be forced to play Game 6 of the WNBA Finals around lunchtime on the East Coast on Thursday, October 27, which fans of the opposing team, the Golden State Valkyries, will be forced to watch in the morning — and the organization is blaming the league for the awkward timing.
The scheduling change was announced on Monday, because the Atlanta Hawks are scheduled to play at the State Farm Arena, which the Dream has made their home court during playoffs, that night. There were also conflicts for Game 3 and 4 because of a Sombr concert and another Hawks game, sparking the Dream to post an open letter to fans which was posted on X on Wednesday, October 28.
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“First, thank you. Thank you for showing up, showing out, and supporting the Atlanta Dream. Thank you for your patience, your flexibility, and your willingness to navigate all the hurdles being placed in front of us. This postseason has asked a lot of our fans, our partners, our players, and our city,” read the letter, signed by owners Larry and Robyn Gottesdiener, Suzanne Abair and Renee Montgomery.
“But ATL knows how to handle adversity. It’s what we do. And once again, the city and our fans will fill the building. On a workday. On a school day. In the early afternoon. We do not take that support for granted,” they added. “This incredible run by our players has also made something else abundantly clear: the Atlanta Dream has earned the right to be taken seriously.”
The letter went on to detail how the conflict arose.
“Two months ago, when the WNBA finalized playoff dates and times, we raised concerns that the W Finals schedule conflicted with NBA games at State Farm Arena. As we moved through the playoffs, we reiterated those concerns. Our concerns did not receive the attention, nor the urgency that they deserved,” the owners wrote.
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The Dream’s home games this season were mostly played at the Gateway Center Arena, but it only has a capacity of 3,500, according to The Athletic, so the team was able to arrange for some playoff games at State Farm Arena, which will also become their home next season and has room for 17,000.
Per The Athletic, the WNBA sent a memo to all owners last December with “playoff hold dates” and asked them to secure all the dates for their home arena — Gateway Center, in the Dream’s case — and if they couldn’t, they were asked to explain why. The outlet reported that it’s unclear if the Dream contracted for those dates at State Farm Arena, which is a more appropriate venue for a Finals game.
“Perhaps it was assumed that the Dream would not make it this far. Perhaps, our place in the Finals was not accounted for. Whatever the reason, the reality is that we are here. We earned our place in the Finals, and our city deserves the opportunity to show up for its team,” the letter continued.
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“Playing a midday game on a Thursday is not what we would have chosen and not what we fought for,” the owners wrote. “And as much as we have great affection and nostalgia for Gateway Center Arena, we believed that our fans and the city wanted the opportunity to be a part of this historic series, and to see it played on a world-class stage. That meant State Farm Arena.”
“We are grateful to everyone who helped make that possible, especially our partners — the Atlanta Hawks and State Farm Arena — who stepped up by adjusting their schedule on the fly, not once, but three times,” the owners continued. “And what a celebration it has been: a party, a concert and incredible Dream basketball all rolled into one. That is what Atlanta supporting Atlanta looks like.”
“The Hawks and the Dream are different teams with different histories, but we share a city, a community, and a responsibility to help Atlanta shine on the biggest stages. When one of us has an opportunity to make history, we all want to see it happen,” the letter added.
“We have built something special here, powered by our players, our fans, our partners, and a city that believes in what we are doing. We intend to keep building. We intend to keep winning. And we expect the opportunities, planning, and consideration afforded to us to reflect the level at which we compete,” the owners concluded. “We are proud to represent Atlanta. We are proud to be in the Finals. And we are grateful for the way this city has rallied around us.”
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The Atlanta Dream have one famous supporter: Flava Flav, who posted a letter on X on Tuesday, October 27, for those who want to be excused from work or school to attend. “Thursday is a paid holiday. Because Flavor Flav said so,” he captioned the image.
The Golden State Valkyries lead the Finals 3-2. The teams will face off at 12:30 p.m. on October 29 for Game 6, which is sold out, according to an October 28 Instagram post from the State Farm Arena. If necessary, Game 7 will take place at 8 p.m. at the Valkyries’ home court, Chase Center in San Francisco.
This story Atlanta Dream Blames WNBA After Must-Win Finals Game 6 Is Scheduled for Shockingly Early Start first appeared on First for Sports. Follow First for Sports on Yahoo so you don’t miss what’s coming next.
