WNBA moves finals schedule to allow Atlanta Dream to play at larger arena

The WNBA has moved up Game 3 of the finals by a day so the Atlanta Dream can host the Golden State Valkyries at State Farm Arena. The league has also moved up the tipoff time for Game 4 of the best-of-seven series.

Game 3 will now take place on Wednesday 21 October. Game 4 will tip off at 1pm ET on Saturday 24 October, two and a half hours earlier than originally scheduled.

The Dream had hoped to play at State Farm Arena, the home of the Atlanta Hawks, which seats more than 17,000 fans, rather than their regular home, Gateway Center Arena, which holds only 3,500. The series begins on Saturday in California.

“We are grateful for the efforts made by numerous stakeholders, including the Dream, the Valkyries, the Hawks, State Farm Arena, and NBC Sports and USA Sports,” WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert said.

“The change of venue dramatically expands the seating capacity and ensures that the Dream will be able to provide an extraordinary atmosphere for the first WNBA finals game to be played in the Atlanta market since 2013. We are pleased that thousands more fans across the Southeast region will have the opportunity to experience the ultimate WNBA action – the WNBA finals – in person.”

There had been scheduling conflicts at State Farm Arena for both games, with a concert by singer Sombr on 22 October and the Hawks hosting their home opener on the night of 24 October.

“We are thrilled that we will be able to accommodate the Dream as they host Games 3 and 4 of the WNBA finals at State Farm Arena,” said Andrew Saltzman, president of business enterprise and chief commercial officer of the Hawks and State Farm Arena.

“Playing for a championship is special, and we want the Dream to feel the full support of the city during this amazing run.”

While the Dream played most of their regular-season games at Gateway Center Arena, they moved six regular-season games and their three previous home playoff games to State Farm Arena. They will play all their home games there next season after signing a multiyear deal earlier this month.

The Dream, led by a core of Angel Reese, Rhyne Howard, Allisha Gray and Jordin Canada, are making their first finals appearance in 13 years after sweeping the Mystics in the first round and the 2024 champion New York Liberty in the semi-finals.

It remains unclear where Game 6 would be held if the series goes that far, with the Hawks scheduled to play another home game at State Farm Arena on 29 October.

The Valkyries faced a scheduling conflict of their own for Game 2 on 19 October, when Doja Cat had been scheduled to perform at Chase Center in San Francisco. That concert has been moved to 25 October.