WNBA Moves Finals Game 6 to State Farm Arena Matinee

The WNBA has scheduled Game 6 of the Finals between the Atlanta Dream and Golden State Valkyries for Thursday at 12:30 p.m. ET at State Farm Arena in Atlanta, following extensive negotiations over the venue and scheduling. The change also shifts the Atlanta Hawks' NBA game against the Cleveland Cavaliers to 8 p.m. ET, preserving the possibility of a decisive Game 7 on Halloween in San Francisco.

According to ESPN, the adjustments followed a weekend of discussions involving the WNBA, NBA, Hawks, State Farm Arena, Dream, Valkyries and broadcast partners. The 17,000-seat arena will host Game 6, avoiding the possibility of a championship-deciding contest being held at the Dream's 3,500-seat Gateway Center.

The revised schedule keeps a potential Game 7 at Chase Center in San Francisco on Halloween. Atlanta's NBA game will take place later on Thursday, following a scheduling arrangement similar to the one used for Game 4 of the Finals.

All three Finals games played in Atlanta have required schedule adjustments at State Farm Arena, ESPN reported. Coordinating the WNBA Finals with the NBA schedule and broadcast commitments has required cooperation among the teams, leagues and venue operators.

League officials also considered moving Game 6 to Friday, when State Farm Arena had an opening, and rescheduling a potential Game 7 for Tuesday, Nov. 3, at Chase Center. That alternative would have extended the Finals schedule beyond the current plan.