The Atlanta Dream are making it clear that they are not happy with how the WNBA handled the scheduling of the Finals, and their latest statement is putting the league’s planning under a microscope.
After months of concerns about scheduling conflicts at State Farm Arena, Dream ownership says its warnings were not given the attention they deserved. Now, with the team’s championship hopes hanging in the balance, Atlanta is preparing for one of the biggest games in franchise history with a tip-off time that has sparked widespread criticism.
A MUST-WIN FINALS GAME… AT 12:30 P.M. ON A THURSDAY?!
The Dream are scheduled to face the Golden State Valkyries in Game 6 of the WNBA Finals on Thursday, October 29, at 12:30 p.m. ET.
The problem? Atlanta originally expected the game to take place at 8 p.m. ET, giving fans a prime-time opportunity to watch the team fight to keep its championship hopes alive.
Instead, the game was moved to the middle of a workday because the Atlanta Hawks are also scheduled to play at State Farm Arena that evening.
For fans who work during the day, the new time creates an obvious challenge. And with the Dream facing elimination, the stakes could hardly be higher.
THE DREAM SAY THEY WARNED THE LEAGUE MONTHS AGO
In an open letter to Atlanta, the team’s ownership group said it raised concerns two months ago when the WNBA finalized its playoff schedule.
The owners said they repeatedly brought up potential conflicts involving the WNBA Finals and NBA games at State Farm Arena, but felt their concerns were largely ignored.
“Our concerns did not receive the attention, nor the urgency that they deserved,” the ownership group wrote.
The letter also raised a question that is sure to get fans talking: Was Atlanta’s deep playoff run properly accounted for when the schedule was being planned?
“Perhaps it was assumed that the Dream would not make it this far,” the owners wrote.
That statement captures the frustration surrounding a situation that has forced multiple adjustments to the Finals schedule.
THIS IS BIGGER THAN ONE GAME
The scheduling problems have affected several games throughout the series.
Game 3 was moved up a day because of a concert at State Farm Arena, while Game 4 was shifted to an afternoon start to accommodate a Hawks game later that evening.
Now, Game 6 has also been moved to the afternoon, creating another unusual situation for a WNBA Finals matchup.
The Dream chose to play their postseason home games at State Farm Arena rather than the much smaller Gateway Center Arena, giving more fans the opportunity to attend. State Farm Arena holds approximately 17,000 people, compared with roughly 3,500 at Gateway Center Arena.
But the larger venue has also brought scheduling challenges as the WNBA and NBA calendars collide.
The Dream’s ownership acknowledged that Thursday’s early start was not what the organization wanted, while thanking the Hawks and State Farm Arena for making adjustments to accommodate the Finals.
NOW, ATLANTA HAS TO SAVE ITS SEASON
The controversy comes at the worst possible time for the Dream.
Golden State leads the series 3-2, meaning the Valkyries can win the championship with a victory on Thursday. Atlanta must win to force a decisive Game 7.
Instead of having a traditional prime-time stage for a potential championship-clinching game, the teams will tip off at 12:30 p.m. ET on a weekday.
The Dream’s ownership made its position clear in the letter, writing that the franchise has “earned the right to be taken seriously.”
The organization also said it expects future planning and consideration to reflect the level at which it competes.
Atlanta still has a chance to keep its championship dreams alive. But the scheduling controversy has added another storyline to an already dramatic Finals.
