Dream owners criticize WNBA over Game 6 scheduling and venue capacity

The Atlanta Dream ownership group released an open letter on Wednesday stating that the WNBA did not adequately address concerns regarding the venue and start time for Game 6 of the WNBA Finals. The Dream will play the Golden State Valkyries at State Farm Arena in downtown Atlanta on Thursday with a tipoff at 12:30 p.m. ET. The series is currently tied at three games apiece after Golden State took a 3-2 lead in the best-of-seven series on Monday.

Owners Larry and Robyn Gottesdiener, Suzanne Abair, and Renee Montgomery wrote that the team raised issues about potential scheduling conflicts with the NBA’s Atlanta Hawks two months before the Finals began. They noted that the WNBA finalized playoff dates and times during that period, creating a direct overlap with Hawks games at State Farm Arena. The owners argued that these repeated warnings did not receive the urgency required to find a better solution.

The letter described the compromise as less than ideal, specifically noting that the move to an early afternoon slot was not the outcome the team sought. The owners suggested that the league may have assumed the Dream would not advance to the Finals. They emphasized that the team earned its place in the series and that the city deserved the opportunity to support the franchise on a large stage. The Dream had previously announced plans to return to State Farm Arena for all home games starting in 2027.

State Farm Arena, the longtime home of the Atlanta Hawks, has a capacity of roughly 17,000 fans. The Dream’s primary home court for the past several seasons has been Gateway Center Arena, which holds 3,500 spectators. All of Atlanta’s home playoff games this postseason have been hosted at State Farm Arena. The early Thursday start time required the Hawks to adjust their own schedule, pushing their game against the Houston Rockets to 8:30 p.m. last Saturday and moving their Thursday matchup against the Cleveland Cavaliers to 8 p.m. to allow arena crews time for preparation.

WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert praised the sellout crowds for Games 3 and 4 in a statement on Monday. She expressed excitement to give thousands more fans the chance to experience Game 6 with a championship on the line. Engelbert thanked the NBA, Dream, Valkyries, Hawks, State Farm Arena, and USA Network for the collaboration that made the move possible. ESPN’s Ramona Shelburne described the decision to schedule the game on a weekday afternoon as the best of the bad solutions available to the league.

Negotiations between the teams and the league were reportedly tense over the weekend. ESPN reported that internal documents showed playoff dates were distributed to teams on Dec. 4, 2025. Options considered included moving Game 6 to Friday and Game 7 to Tuesday, Nov. 3. That date coincides with the midterm elections. The Golden State Warriors, who share Chase Center with the Valkyries, have home games scheduled for Nov. 1 and Nov. 2. Despite the logistical challenges, the Dream confirmed on Wednesday that tickets for Game 6 had sold out.

Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens urged local employers and educators to extend grace to fans on Thursday afternoon. He asked them to allow fans to be excited for the home team whether they are at the game or watching on their devices. Several Atlanta players downplayed the early start time, focusing instead on keeping their championship hopes alive and forcing a decisive Game 7. The Dream will attempt to secure a win that would send the series to a final contest.