WNBA Finals Chaos: Atlanta Dream unload on league for forcing midday Thursday tipoff
Atlanta's ownership group has publicly challenged league officials after a scheduling conflict disrupted its biggest home game
A championship series should represent the biggest opportunity for a WNBA franchise to showcase its success, but the Atlanta Dream believe the league's handling of the Finals has made that unnecessarily difficult.
Atlanta will host the Golden State Valkyries in Game 6 on Thursday, October 29, with tipoff scheduled for 12:30 p.m. ET, an unusual time for a championship contest that could determine the destination of the title.
The afternoon start allows the Dream to play at State Farm Arena, where the Atlanta Hawks are also scheduled to face the Cleveland Cavaliers later that evening.
However, the arrangement has angered Atlanta's ownership group, which insists the scheduling problem could have been addressed long before the Finals began.
In an open letter to supporters, owners Larry and Robyn Gottesdiener , Suzanne Abair and Renee Montgomery accused WNBA leadership of failing to give their concerns sufficient attention.
The ownership group explained that potential conflicts were identified when the league confirmed its postseason schedule, with State Farm Arena already committed to hosting NBA games.
"Two months ago, when the WNBA finalized playoff dates and times, we raised concerns that the W Finals schedule conflicted with NBA games at State Farm Arena," the owners wrote.
"As we moved through the playoffs, we reiterated those concerns. Our concerns did not receive the attention, nor the urgency that they deserved."
Their frustration extends beyond the inconvenience of an afternoon game, with Atlanta questioning whether the possibility of the Dream reaching the championship series had received adequate consideration.
"Perhaps it was assumed that the Dream would not make it this far. Perhaps our place in the Finals was not accounted for," the letter continued.
"Whatever the reason, the reality is that we are here. We earned our place in the Finals, and our city deserves the opportunity to show up for it's team."
Why Atlanta Dream accepted controversial start time
The alternative would likely have involved returning to Gateway Center Arena , Atlanta's regular-season home, which accommodates approximately 3,500 spectators.
State Farm Arena offers capacity for around 17,000 fans, making it a considerably more attractive option for a franchise competing for its first WNBA championship.
The Hawks agreed to move their game against Cleveland to 8 p.m. ET, creating enough time for the Dream to stage their Finals contest earlier in the day.
Atlanta's owners praised their NBA counterparts for accommodating the arrangement but maintained that Thursday's start time was far from ideal.
"Playing a midday game on a Thursday is not what we would have chosen and not what we fought for," they wrote.
Atlanta Dream demand greater respect
The scheduling dispute comes with Golden State holding a 3-2 advantage in the best-of-seven series following consecutive victories.
Atlanta must win Game 6 to force a deciding contest, while the Valkyries can secure the championship with another victory.
The Dream 's owners believe their postseason success demonstrates why the franchise deserves greater consideration when major league decisions are made.
"This incredible run by our players has also made something else abundantly clear: The Atlanta Dream has earned the right to be taken seriously," their letter stated.
They concluded by emphasizing that the franchise expects future planning to reflect its competitive standing.
Adding: "We intend to keep building. We intend to keep winning. And we expect the opportunities, planning, and consideration afforded to us to reflect the level at which we compete."
