WNBA Moves Game 6 Of Final Series To Mid-Day Thursday Timeslot Due To Arena Shuffle

The WNBA has shifted Game 6 of its championship series to 12:30 p.m. ET on Thursday, meaning the sport’s ultimate winner could be crowned in a daypart better known for soap operas than live sports.

The best-of-seven series between the Atlanta Dream and Golden State Valkyries is tied at two games apiece, with Game 5 set for Monday night. Game 6 on Thursday was moved earlier so that it could be played at State Farm Arena in Atlanta, which is the home of both the Dream and the NBA‘s Atlanta Hawks.

The Hawks are moving their regular-season game against the Cleveland Cavaliers to 8 p.m. ET at State Farm. The arena, with a seating capacity of more than 17,000, is where the Dream will play home games starting next season. The club currently plays home games at Gateway Center Arena, which seats 3,500, the smallest capacity in the WNBA.

Dates for playoff series were confirmed with teams last December, meaning contingency plans were required for teams sharing arenas. The Dream’s Game 6 shift allows for more seats to be filled but creates less-than-ideal visibility for the WNBA, a 30-year-old league whose TV ratings have been booming over the past few years amid an influx of new talent.

USA Network will air the game as previously planned, with Peacock providing a streaming simulcast.

In announcing the change, the WNBA said it will join forces with the NBA, NBC, USA and Peacock to boost marketing and promotion about the new time. Game 7, if necessary, would tip off at 8 p.m. ET on Saturday, Halloween night.

Cathy Engelbert, who is winding down her tenure as WNBA commissioner, said in a statement that Games 3 and 4 of the series drew “sellout crowds” to State Farm Arena, creating an “extraordinary atmosphere.” The league and its partners are “excited to give thousands more fans the opportunity to experience Game 6 with a championship on the line,” she said. “We thank the NBA, Dream, Valkyries, Hawks, State Farm Arena and USA Network for the collaboration and flexibility that made this move possible. We look forward to delivering another unforgettable Finals experience in Atlanta.”