ATLANTA, GA - OCTOBER 24: Angel Reese #5 of the Atlanta Dream looks on during the game against the Golden State Valkyries during Game Four of the 2026 WNBA Finals on October 24, 2026 at State Farm Arena in Atlanta, Georgia. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Adam Hagy/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images Noa Dalzell Mon, October 26, 2026 at 7:51 PM UTC · 5 min read About Our Ads Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The WNBA has rescheduled Game 6 of the Finals between the Golden State Valkyries and Atlanta Dream to 12:30pm ET on Thursday, October 29th at State Farm Arena.
That's right — a WNBA Finals game will be played in the middle of the workday and the middle of the workweek. And not just any Finals game; if the same team wins the next two games, Game 6 will clinch the series. The series is currently tied 2-2, with Game 5 scheduled for Monday night at Chase Center, the Valkyries' home arena.
Game 6 was initially scheduled for 8pm ET at Gateway Center Arena, but over the past few weeks, the Dream and the WNBA have worked to move Atlanta's home Finals games to the much-larger State Farm Arena, where the Atlanta Hawks, the Dream's NBA counterpart, play.
ESPN's Ramona Shelbourne first reported the decision to move the game earlier in the day, and to a larger arena.
The advantage of rescheduling is clear: Gateway Center seats 3,500 fans, while State Farm Arena seats 17,000. Both Games 3 and 4 were initially scheduled at Gateway, but the Valkyries, Dream, WNBA, and NBA—along with other stakeholders—worked together to move them to State Farm. (The Hawks had to move their home opener back 30 minutes, and the Dream-Valkyries Game 3 was moved one day earlier than originally scheduled.)
Both games sold out, and Dream star Angel Reese credited the fans with helping power her team to victory in Game 3.
"Man, our fans showed up," Reese said. "Like they showed up in every single possession. I thought Ballhalla was loud. Atlanta, you all came out on Wednesday, on a school night; you have to work tomorrow. I appreciate y'all for coming out and supporting us and being loud on every single possession and cheering and being super consistent."
Then came the next question: what about Game 6?
In an official statement, WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert announced that the potentially title-clinching game would also be played at State Farm.
"The sellout crowds and extraordinary atmosphere at State Farm Arena for Games 3 and 4 were a tremendous success, and we're excited to give thousands more fans the opportunity to experience Game 6 with a championship on the line," Engelbert said. "We thank the NBA, Dream, Valkyries, Hawks, State Farm Arena and USA Network for the collaboration and flexibility that made this move possible. We look forward to delivering another unforgettable Finals experience in Atlanta."
Once again, the changes required some logistical tinkering — to make it work, an NBA regular-season game between the Hawks and Cleveland Cavaliers scheduled for Thursday night will move back to an 8pm start time.
While it's a win for everyone that Game 6 will now be played in front of a much bigger crowd, it means a potentially decisive Game 6 will be played at 9:30am PT — at the beginning of the workday for Western Conference fans rooting for the Valkyries.
Shelbourne reported that another option under strong consideration was to move Game 6 to an open date at State Farm Arena on Friday and Game 7 to an open date at Chase Center on Tuesday, November 3, but that the involved stakeholders ultimately agreed on the afternoon slot instead.
Now, with Game 6 taking place in the afternoon, TV ratings will inevitably take a dive — and it's yet to be determined whether in-person attendance will be impacted as well. While the Dream had no trouble filling State Farm on a Wednesday night and a Saturday afternoon, a midday Thursday game raises different questions.
Shelbourne reported that if the league had tried to reschedule Game 6 sooner, it might not have had to be played in the afternoon.
"Had these requests been made a few weeks ago… or even a week ago, sounds like more could've been done," she wrote. "The issues with the Friday/Tuesday construction were 3 days between Games 5/6 AND 6/7, plus concerns about playing on Election Night and logistical issues of moving two Finals games."
No matter how you slice it, the Dream, WNBA, and other relevant stakeholders have no excuse for not making this request months ago. Now, the biggest game of a record-breaking WNBA season might be played in the middle of a workday. Television viewership won't be maximized, and the in-arena environment could also be compromised.
Source: Sports
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