WNBA Finals Game 6 Moves to Thursday Midday in Atlanta
The WNBA has moved Game 6 of its championship series to 12:30 p.m. ET on Thursday, October 29, so that it can be played at State Farm Arena in Atlanta. The change was reported by Deadline on October 26.
The series is a best-of-seven, meaning the first team to win four games takes the title. The Atlanta Dream and the Golden State Valkyries were tied at two wins each before Game 5, which is set for Monday night.
Game 6 was first scheduled for 8 p.m. ET, or 5 p.m. PT, and it was originally set to be played at Gateway Center Arena, the Dream's home court. That building seats 3,500 people and has the smallest capacity in the league. State Farm Arena seats more than 17,000. Games 3 and 4 of the series were already played there.
The schedule change also clears the evening for another event. The Atlanta Hawks had their regular-season game against the Cleveland Cavaliers moved to 8 p.m. ET at State Farm Arena, so the WNBA game went earlier in the day. USA Today reported that the afternoon start was chosen to fit around the Hawks game.
Fans who cannot make it to the arena will still be able to watch. USA Network will broadcast Game 6, and Peacock, the streaming service, will show the same game at the same time. A simulcast means one broadcast going out on two platforms at once.
If a seventh game is needed, it would tip off at 8 p.m. ET on Saturday, Halloween night. The WNBA has not announced a venue change for that game.
For the Dream, the arena move carries a longer-term note too. The team will play its home games at State Farm Arena starting next season, which means the bigger building is becoming its regular home, not just a finals stop.
For the Valkyries and the Dream, the next three days are simple. One team needs one more win to take the lead in the series, and the other needs to keep the series alive. Game 5 comes first, on Monday night, and the rest of the schedule depends on it.
Fans heading to Thursday's game should check their tickets and local listings for the new start time. Anyone planning to watch from home should look for USA Network or Peacock at 12:30 p.m. ET.
