Atlanta Dream Owners Push Back Against Lunchtime WNBA Finals Slot

The Atlanta Dream ownership group issued a formal response to the WNBA’s scheduling change for Game 6 of the Finals.

The league moved the start time from 8 p.m. to 12:30 p.m. ET on Thursday, October 29. The game will be played at State Farm Arena in Atlanta against the Golden State Valkyries. According to the WNBA, the earlier tipoff was necessary to accommodate an Atlanta Hawks NBA game scheduled for the same venue that evening.

In an open letter to fans, the Dream’s owners stated that potential conflicts with NBA games at State Farm Arena had been raised two months prior. The group argued that their concerns did not receive sufficient attention or urgency before the Finals schedule was finalized. The letter questioned whether the league had adequately considered the possibility of Atlanta reaching the championship series. The owners suggested that the team might not have been expected to advance to this stage, or that their participation was not included in the initial planning. They noted that the Dream had reached the Finals regardless of prior expectations.

The ownership group expressed disappointment with the shift to the afternoon but also offered acknowledgments. The letter thanked the Hawks and State Farm Arena for adjusting their schedules three times to accommodate the Finals. The owners emphasized their gratitude for those efforts while maintaining their critique of the final outcome.

The scheduling decision drew attention beyond the league. Rapper Flavor Flav responded to the weekday start by proposing that Thursday become a paid holiday. He shared a mock letter asking employers to allow workers to take the day off so they could watch the game.

Former U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton added her support to the proposal on social media. Responding to Flavor Flav’s message, she wrote, "I endorse this message." The exchange highlighted the unusual nature of a championship game being played during standard working hours.