The Atlanta Dream are headed to the WNBA Finals, but an embarrassing arena situation has exposed a major problem for the growing league.
The WNBA has spent years fighting for more recognition, bigger audiences, and greater respect. However, its latest championship controversy is making the league look completely unprepared for its own success.
The Atlanta Dream are heading to the WNBA Finals for the first time since 2013, but there’s one massive problem: They might have to play their championship home games in an arena that holds just 3,500 fans.
Seriously?
Atlanta’s usual larger venue, State Farm Arena, is unavailable because of scheduling conflicts involving an upcoming concert and Atlanta Hawks games. That leaves the Dream scrambling to find somewhere suitable to host Games 3, 4, and potentially 6 against the Golden State Valkyries.
Meanwhile, Golden State will play its home games at Chase Center, an NBA arena that holds more than 18,000 fans.
The difference is absolutely ridiculous.
What’s even more frustrating is that Atlanta has already demonstrated the demand for a bigger venue. The Dream averaged nearly 9,700 fans during their three home playoff games at State Farm Arena.
With Angel Reese, Rhyne Howard, and Allisha Gray helping lead this championship run, the Dream have given Atlanta basketball fans something worth celebrating.
Instead, thousands of potential fans could be left watching from home because of an embarrassing lack of planning.
The WNBA wants to be treated like a major professional sports league, and rightfully so. But situations like this make that argument much harder.
The Dream are preparing for one of the biggest moments in franchise history, and the conversation should be about basketball, not whether their arena is big enough.
The WNBA has made tremendous progress, but this situation is a terrible look for a league trying to take the next step.
