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WNBA Finals Game 6 Venue Uncertain as Hawks Home Opener Conflicts
Confirmed
In Short: The Atlanta Dream and Golden State Valkyries face an uncertain venue for Game 6 of the WNBA Finals, with State Farm Arena already booked for the Atlanta Hawks' home opener against the Cleveland Cavaliers.
State Farm Arena workers began preparations for the NBA game immediately after the WNBA Finals concluded, with approximately 2,500 staff members involved in the transition.
The WNBA moved Game 6 from its original 3:30 p.m. start to 1 p.m., and the Hawks pushed their game back from 8 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. to accommodate the changeover.
Amanda Mann, chief facilities officer for the Hawks and State Farm Arena, said, 'From the court to the concourses it’s a total building reset in order to welcome our Hawks fans back into our world class venue.'
The arena conducted its first same-day court changeover on Saturday, removing the Dream's court and replacing it with the Hawks' court.
The Dream moved from their regular home at Gateway Center Arena in College Park, which has a capacity of just 3,500, to accommodate larger crowds for the Finals.
The Hawks and State Farm Arena agreed to schedule changes to allow the WNBA Finals to take place, but the venue for Game 6 remains officially listed as 'TBD' due to the conflict.
The series is tied 2-2 after the Valkyries won Game 4, 67-62, on Saturday, ensuring the series will return to Atlanta for Game 6.
The WNBA did not provide an update when reached for comment by CBS Sports.
The Dream's primary home is Gateway Center Arena, but the league's smallest venue is not equipped to handle the larger crowds expected for the Finals.
The Atlanta Hawks are scheduled to host the Cleveland Cavaliers on the same night, leaving limited options for accommodating the WNBA Finals.
What this adds
The venue for Game 6 remains uncertain, with the WNBA and Hawks working to find a solution.
The Dream's move to State Farm Arena for Games 3 and 4 allowed for larger crowds, but the Hawks' home opener creates a scheduling conflict.
The Hawks and State Farm Arena have agreed to schedule changes for future seasons to avoid such conflicts.
Background
Former NBA player Enes Kanter Freedom was denied entry to Game 3 of the WNBA Finals after refusing a private suite offered for his safety.
The Atlanta Dream evened the WNBA Finals series with a 79-65 victory over the Golden State Valkyries in Game 2.
What's confirmed
- The Golden State Valkyries held off the Atlanta Dream's comeback attempt on Saturday to secure a 67-62 win in Game 4 of the 2026 WNBA Finals.
What's still developing
- “Our conversions team practices, actually pretty regularly, taking apart the court and putting it back together,” Mann said.
- Earlier this month, the Dream announced a multi-year deal to play all home games at State Farm Arena, starting with the 2027 season, thereby avoiding any such conflicts in the future.
- The result evened the series at 2-2 and ensured that the series will return to Atlanta for Game 6 -- though where, specifically, remains to be seen.
- There is less flexibility for both parties moving forward, however, so it's unclear what will happen with Game 6.
- ATLANTA – Angel Reese said Friday that she could take Golden State’s confidence and "mess them up."
- “We talk a lot about our second-half surge. We want to be the best team coming out of halftime because that takes the confidence and puts them away, and trying to do it by four-minute segments,” Angel Reese said.
- On today’s “Closer Look with Rose Scott,” we’re joined by WABE’s DorMiya Vance and KQED reporter Sydney Johnson to talk about the series thus far, how the cities are supporting their teams, and the explosion of excitement within both fan bases.
- Kanter Freedom demanded he be allowed to sit in his purchased seat, and for the second time this season didn’t make it through a WNBA game.
- Gabby Williams led the way with 25 points and 11 rebounds, while the Valkyries dominated the glass 52-25 and turned 17 offensive rebounds into 20 second-chance points. – Live Stream Aces vs Valkyries with Peacock – Las Vegas will need a much better offensive performance after being held to a season-low 60 points and 33.9 percent shooting in Game 1.
- The WNBA Finals matchup was set eight days before the series starts.
- Freedom flagged safety concerns to law enforcement before the game, citing what he described as thousands of death threats.
- “We will not play a game outside of Chase Center this postseason,” Valkyries team president Jess Smith said.