FILE - State Farm Arena is viewed before an NBA basketball game between the Atlanta Hawks and the Los Angeles Lakers, Dec. 30, 2022, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Hakim Wright Sr., File)
FILE - State Farm Arena is viewed before an NBA basketball game between the Atlanta Hawks and the Los Angeles Lakers, Dec. 30, 2022, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Hakim Wright Sr., File)
BASKETBALL
WNBA Finals schedule adjusted
The Atlanta Dream will host the Golden State Valkyries in Game 3 and Game 4 of the WNBA Finals at State Farm Arena, allowing for larger attendance, after the league moved the one up a day and altered tipoff of the second one to avoid conflicts at the venue.
Game 3 of the best-of-seven series will now be Wednesday, Oct. 21. Tipoff for Game 4 on Saturday, Oct. 24 will be noon Central, 2 1/2 hours before the previously scheduled start time. The series begins Saturday in California.
The location of the Dream home games had been up in the air because the team wanted to play at State Farm Arena, the home of the Atlanta Hawks that seats more than 17,000 fans, as opposed to their normal home, Gateway Center Arena, which holds only 3,500.
"We are grateful for the efforts made by numerous stakeholders, including the Dream, the Valkyries, the Hawks, State Farm Arena, and NBC Sports and USA Sports," WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert said. "The change of venue dramatically expands the seating capacity and ensures that the Dream will be able to provide an extraordinary atmosphere for the first WNBA Finals game to be played in the Atlanta market since 2013. We are pleased that thousands more fans across the Southeast region will have the opportunity to experience the ultimate WNBA action -- the WNBA Finals -- in person."
There were conflicts at State Farm Arena for Game 3, with a concert by singer Sombr on Oct. 22, and for Game 4, with the Hawks holding their home opener the night of Oct. 24.
"We are thrilled that we will be able to accommodate the Dream as they host Games 3 and 4 of the WNBA Finals at State Farm Arena. Playing for a championship is special, and we want the Dream to feel the full support of the city during this amazing run," said Andrew Saltzman, president of business enterprise and chief commercial officer of the Hawks and State Farm Arena.
Atlanta Dream forward Angel Reese, right, celebrates with DeWanna Bonner, left, after their team defeated the New York Liberty in Game 3 of the WNBA basketball semifinals, Friday, Oct. 9, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Heather Khalifa)
Atlanta Dream forward Angel Reese, right, celebrates with DeWanna Bonner, left, after their team defeated the New York Liberty in Game 3 of the WNBA basketball semifinals, Friday, Oct. 9, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Heather Khalifa)
Atlanta Dream forward Angel Reese, right, celebrates with DeWanna Bonner, left, after their team defeated the New York Liberty in Game 3 of the WNBA basketball semifinals, Friday, Oct. 9, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Heather Khalifa)