Dream Owners Blame WNBA for Finals Game 6 Timing

The Dream’s owners said they warned the WNBA months ago that Finals dates could conflict with NBA games at State Farm Arena. In an open letter to fans published on October 28, they said they repeated those concerns during the playoffs but did not receive the attention or urgency they deserved.

Game 6 is set for 12:30 p.m. Thursday, October 29, after the game was moved from the smaller Gateway Center Arena to State Farm Arena. The midday start reflects a scheduling conflict with the Atlanta Hawks, who play at the venue that evening. The Golden State Valkyries lead the series 3-2, making the game a potential championship decider.

The owners said the team had earned serious consideration and that Atlanta fans deserved the chance to attend a Finals game in a larger arena. They thanked the Hawks and State Farm Arena for adjusting their schedules multiple times to accommodate the series, while saying a weekday midday game was not what the Dream wanted.

The timing has drawn criticism, and resale ticket prices fell sharply. TicketData figures cited in one report showed the cheapest tickets dropping from about $185 on Monday night to $35 by Wednesday morning. TicketData founder Keith Pagello said resellers may have expected the Dream to win Game 5 and host a title-clinching game.

Charles Barkley suggested moving Game 6 to Friday. That option would have required moving a possible Game 7, since the Warriors have games at Chase Center on November 1 and 2. The earliest available date for a deciding game there would have been November 3, and the Valkyries were concerned about shifting both games and having a three-day gap. The league kept Thursday’s schedule.