The WNBA Finals could produce a strange ending in Atlanta: a championship celebration, if it happens Thursday, may have to be rushed onto a practice court.
Game 6 is set for 12:30 p.m. ET at State Farm Arena, with the Atlanta Hawks scheduled to host the Cleveland Cavaliers in the same building at 8 p.m. That setup has created a scramble over whether there will be enough time to clear the arena, reset it, and still let the winning team celebrate on the floor.
ESPN’s Ramona Shelburne raised the issue on NBA Today and said there are discussions about the logistics. She also noted the backup plan is a tough one.
“ It could be moved to a practice court,” Shelburne said.
That possibility quickly set off frustration online. One post on X called the situation “THIS IS ACTUALLY EMBARRASSING FOR THE WNBA 😭” and pointed out that if the Finals end Thursday, the champions may have to cut their celebration short because the Hawks need the arena later that night.
The timing is awkward in another way too. In the Bay Area, it is 9:30 a.m., which means the game lands in the middle of a work morning for many Valkyries fans. After the first two Finals games pulled record ratings, the early start is expected to affect viewership.
Still, the basketball has given people plenty to talk about. Golden State’s 64-55 win in Game 5 at Chase Center was built on defense, with the Valkyries holding Atlanta to 19-of-65 shooting.
During that game, a fan sign flashed on the video board during a timeout that read, “ Move the Hawks game. Women = Prime Time.
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One of the people in the building that night, Kendall Christmas-Miller, an accounting manager from San Jose, has been to every Valkyries home playoff game with her wife. She said she is glad a workaround exists, but she thinks the league should have done more.
“ They would never make the men’s NBA Finals happen at 9:30 in the morning,” Christmas-Miller said.
The players have tried to keep the mood light. Valkyries guard Veronica Burton offered a blunt solution for fans who have to work.
“ Call in sick,” Burton said.
Dream coach Karl Smesko also joked about the setup, saying he would like to see a “ national holiday for all WNBA championship games. ”
Warriors coach Steve Kerr defended the plan by comparing it to the alternative.
He said it beats “ the YMCA that night in front of 75 people. ”
The Dream’s ownership group, which includes Renee Montgomery, has not been amused. In an open letter, the group said it warned the league two months ago about the possibility of conflicts with NBA games at State Farm Arena.
“ Our concerns did not receive the attention, nor the urgency that they deserved,” the letter said.
This was not the first time the schedule has had to bend. Game 3 was moved up a day, and Game 4 started early so the Hawks could play their home opener later that night. After Game 4, crews had fewer than four hours to change the floor.
Thursday’s window is wider, but it still leaves a tight turnaround. If Golden State wins the title, the building staff would still have to get back in and prepare for an NBA regular-season game the same night.
The Hawks and Dream have different owners, while the Valkyries are controlled by Warriors owner Joe Lacob. The Dream also are scheduled to play full time at State Farm Arena in 2027, so this exact issue is not expected to return.
The WNBA’s attendance numbers have climbed this season, with 3.8 million fans total and an average of about 11,500 per game, up roughly 4.5%. A 12:30 tip does not erase that growth, but it does complicate how the league’s biggest moment lands.
For the Valkyries, the task is simple: win one more and claim their first title in just their second season. If Atlanta forces another game, Game 7 would be Saturday, Oct. 31, at Chase Center. Either way, Thursday is set to draw plenty of attention - and plenty of questions about why it has to fit around a Hawks game.
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