The Atlanta Dream ownership group released an open letter Tuesday criticizing the decision to schedule Game 6 of the 2026 WNBA Finals at 12:30 p.m. ET on Thursday, calling it a disservice to the team and its fans. The letter states that ownership raised concerns months ago about potential scheduling conflicts at State Farm Arena, the 17,000-seat home of the NBA's Atlanta Hawks, but those concerns "did not receive the attention, nor the urgency that they deserved."
Venue and scheduling conflicts
The Dream's primary arena, Gateway Center Arena, holds only 3,500 spectators and is the smallest in the league. All five of the Dream's postseason games have been played at State Farm Arena. Earlier in the Finals, Games 3 and 4 were rescheduled to accommodate a Sombr concert and a Hawks game against the Houston Rockets. Game 3 moved from Oct. 22 to Oct. 21, and Game 4 was shifted to 1 p.m. ET for a doubleheader with the Hawks' 8 p.m. tipoff. With the Hawks also hosting games on Wednesday and Thursday this week, the league opted for an afternoon start for Game 6 to keep the series at the larger venue.
Ownership letter highlights
In the letter addressed to fans and the city, the ownership group — Larry, Robyn, Suzanne & Renee — wrote: "Playing a midday game on a Thursday is not what we would have chosen and not what we fought for." They emphasized that the team "has earned the right to be taken seriously" and thanked the Hawks and State Farm Arena for adjusting their schedule three times. The letter also noted the logistical challenge of clearing the arena quickly for the Hawks' 8 p.m. game against the Cleveland Cavaliers, which could force a potential Valkyries championship celebration off the court and into a practice gym, according to ESPN.
The scheduling decision has drawn criticism from media outlets, including CBS Sports' Lindsay Gibbs, who called it an "embarrassing end to a historic season."
