Games 3 and 4 of the WNBA Finals between the Golden State Valkyries and the Atlanta Dream will be hosted at State Farm Arena in Atlanta, following adjustments to the original schedule announced Tuesday by the league. The venue, home to the NBA’s Atlanta Hawks, has a capacity of 17,000, significantly larger than the Dream’s usual arena, Gateway Center Arena in College Park, which holds 3,500 spectators.
Initially, the Dream’s plans to play at State Farm Arena faced challenges due to scheduling conflicts. A Sombra concert was set for October 22, and an NBA Hawks regular-season game was scheduled for October 24. To resolve these conflicts, the WNBA shifted Game 3 to Wednesday, October 21, with a tip-off time of 8 p.m., one day earlier than originally planned. Game 4, originally set for 3:30 p.m. on Saturday, will now begin at 1 p.m.
In support of the changes, the Hawks agreed to delay their game against the Houston Rockets by 30 minutes, moving the start time to 8:30 p.m. This adjustment allowed the Dream to secure the larger venue for two crucial Finals games.
Had the arena not been available, Atlanta had explored other locations, including Georgia Tech’s McCamish Pavilion, which offers seating for 8,600. However, securing State Farm Arena ensures a much larger audience and enhances the atmosphere for the first WNBA Finals games in Atlanta since 2013.
“This is what the players and the fans deserve,” said Larry Gottesdiener, majority owner of the Dream. He expressed gratitude to all those involved in resolving the scheduling issues.
The WNBA commissioner, Cathy Engelbert, highlighted the significance of the venue change, noting it allows thousands more fans from the Southeast region to attend the Finals in person, thereby enriching the experience of the league’s championship series.
If the series extends beyond five games, scheduling conflicts remain a concern. Game 6, slated for October 29, coincides with a Hawks home game against the Cleveland Cavaliers at 7 p.m., posing another potential venue challenge for Atlanta.
The Finals began Saturday at 3:30 p.m. at Chase Center in San Francisco, setting the stage for the Golden State Valkyries and Atlanta Dream to compete for the championship title.