Scheduling nightmare: Dream's Finals venue in doubt for Game 6 — SkimNews
Get the Sports newsletter
Daily sports — scores, transfers, the storylines from the leagues you actually follow. Free.
- Minnesota Valkyries beat the Atlanta Dream 67-62 in Game 4 at State Farm Arena on Saturday, tying the best-of-seven WNBA Finals at 2-2.
- WNBA negotiations with the NBA, Dream, Valkyries and Atlanta Hawks continued into Sunday over where and when Game 6 will be played, but no site or tip time had been settled.
- Atlanta Dream played all five home playoff games at 17,000-seat State Farm Arena rather than their roughly 3,500-seat Gateway Center Arena; Games 3 and 4 sold out quickly after the move, and fans seeking Game 6 tickets were told to wait.
- NBA is working with the Atlanta Hawks and Cleveland Cavaliers to determine whether Thursday’s game can be shifted to another date or Cleveland; sources said the Cleveland option would create a Hawks home-road back-to-back and require scheduling a new Cleveland home game with just a few days’ notice.
- WNBA supports a proposal to move Game 6 to Friday at State Farm Arena and shift Game 7 from Oct. 31 at Chase Center to Nov. 3, but only if the Dream and Valkyries agree.
- Minnesota Valkyries raised concerns about moving two WNBA Finals games and the three off days between Games 5 and 6 and between Games 6 and 7, while saying they will support the league’s decision.
- Atlanta Dream will become a full-time tenant at State Farm Arena in 2027, a change the team said should make holding future playoff dates more seamless.
Why it matters: The source says the conflict carries millions of dollars in potential impact for both leagues. Games 3 and 4 sold out quickly after moving to State Farm Arena’s 17,000-seat venue, but the date package shifts Game 7 to Nov. 3 and creates three off days the Valkyries have questioned.
Ask SkimNews
