Dream Address WNBA Finals Game 6 Schedule Change in Statement, Say They Raised Concerns 2 Months Ago

The Atlanta Dream is not thrilled with the WNBA's decision to start Thursday's Game 6 at 12:30 p.m. ET due to scheduling issues.

On Tuesday, the organization released a statement to fans, saying it "raised concerns" months ago with the WNBA regarding potential scheduling conflicts at State Farm Arena with the Atlanta Hawks and added that a midday game "is not what we would have chosen and not what we fought for."

During the regular season, the Dream play their home games at Gateway Center Arena. But it has a capacity of about 3,500 fans, and both the Dream and WNBA understandably wanted bigger crowds for the postseason.

The Dream have been playing their playoff and WNBA Finals games at the State Farm Arena, home of the Hawks, which seats 17,000 fans. Scheduling conflicts with the Hawks already required Game 3 to be moved up a day, while Saturday's Game 4 was a doubleheader between the two teams.

But Game 6 provided far more scheduling complications, with the WNBA and NBA left to consider various scenarios. One proposal was to move Game 6 back to Friday and Game 7 to Tuesday, Nov. 3 (which would have fallen on election day). Other venues in the Atlanta area were considered. Changing the date or location of the Hawks vs. Cleveland Cavaliers matchup on Thursday was discussed.

But ultimately the WNBA chase to go the matinee route, and there was understandable surprise—and anger—that the league would choose to potentially hold the title-deciding game in the early afternoon on a Thursday:

There likely will be some finger-pointing to follow, especially if the Golden State Valkyries end the series on Thursday. It is not how the WNBA would want to end a fantastic season.