Atlanta Dream Owners Slam Midday WNBA Finals Schedule

The Atlanta Dream ownership group released an open letter on Tuesday to address the scheduling of Game 6 in the 2026 WNBA Finals. The match is set for a 12:30 p.m. ET start on Thursday at State Farm Arena.

The Dream face a must-win scenario against the San Francisco Valkyries. The ownership group, led by Larry, Robyn, Suzanne, and Renee, wrote directly to the city of Atlanta and team supporters to explain their frustrations.

The letter states that the owners raised concerns about scheduling conflicts at State Farm Arena months ago. They claimed these warnings did not receive the attention or urgency they deserved.

The Dream's primary home, Gateway Center Arena, seats only 3,500 people. This capacity is the smallest in the league. Because of this limitation, the team has played all five of its postseason games at the 17,000-seat State Farm Arena, the home venue of the NBA's Atlanta Hawks.

Conflicts with NBA events forced changes to the Finals schedule. Games 3 and 4 were altered to fit around a Sombr concert and Hawks games. Game 3 moved from Oct. 22 to Oct. 21. Game 4 shifted to a 1 p.m. start to allow time for a Hawks doubleheader against the Houston Rockets.

The Hawks are scheduled to host games at State Farm Arena on both Wednesday and Thursday. This creates a direct conflict with the Dream's championship game. The league chose the afternoon slot to ensure the Dream could use the larger venue.

"Playing a midday game on a Thursday is not what we would have chosen and not what we fought for," the letter reads. The owners noted that while they have affection for Gateway Center, they believed fans deserved a world-class stage for this historic series.

The ownership group expressed gratitude to the Atlanta Hawks and State Farm Arena for adjusting their schedules three times during the playoffs. They described the situation as a collaboration to help Atlanta shine on the biggest stages.

The letter asserts that the Dream has earned the right to be taken seriously. The owners stated that perhaps the league assumed the team would not reach the Finals, or that their place in the series was not accounted for during planning.

Criticism of the midday start time has grown across the league. CBS Sports analyst Lindsay Gibbs has voiced concerns about the timing for fans in the Pacific Time Zone, where the game starts in the early morning.

Logistical challenges await if the Valkyries win the game. The arena must be cleared quickly for the Hawks' 8 p.m. ET matchup against the Cleveland Cavaliers. According to ESPN, a Valkyries victory might force the championship celebration into a practice gym rather than the main court.

The ownership group closed the letter by thanking fans for their patience and flexibility. They emphasized that the city and fans will fill the building on a workday and school day. The owners pledged to continue building and winning while expecting planning to reflect the level at which they compete.