Atlanta Dream owners Larry and Robyn Gottesdiener, Suzanne Abair, and Renee Montgomery have issued a sharp open letter criticizing the WNBA for failing to address venue scheduling issues. The dispute centers on the WNBA Finals at State Farm Arena, where a 12:30 p.m. eT tip-off for Game 6 is required to accommodate an Atlanta Hawks game later that evening.
The 12:30 p.m. Thursday tip-off at State Farm Arena
The WNBA Finals schedule has forced a midday tip-off for Game 6 this Thursday at State Farm Arena. The 12:30 p.m. ET start is a direct result of the Atlanta Hawks hosting the Cleveland Cavaliers at 8:00 p.m. ET that same night, according to the report.
The Golden State Valkyries currently hold a 3-2 lead in the series and could clinch their first title during this Thursday matchup in Atlanta.. This scheduling conflict is not the first this postseason; the letter stated that Games 3 and 4 were previously disrupted by a concert and the Hawks' home opener.
Scaling up from the 3,500-seat Gateway Center Arena
Atlanta Dream ownership is fighting to maximize the impact of their historic Finals run by utilizing the 17,000-seat State Farm Arena.. Since 2021,the Dream have played their home games at the much smaller Gateway Center Arena in College Park, which holds roughly 3,500 fans.
The team is scheduled to return to State Farm Arena permanently in 2027. However, the current friction highlights the difficulty of managing shared-venue logistics when WNBA playoff success clashes with established NBA schedules.. While the Dream and Hawks are separate entities, they must navigate the same arena management and community expectations.
A history of WNBA displacement, from San Jose to Atlanta
The scheduling friction in Atlanta reflects a wider pattern of WNBA playoff games being displaced by other major events. As reported by CNN, the Golden State Valkyries were forced to move a first-round playoff game to the SAP Center in San Jose last year because the Laver Cup was booked at the Chase Center.
This trend suggests that even as the league's popularity grows, WNBA postseason dates often remain secondary to other high-profile bookings. In Atlanta, the Hawks and Dream have had to adjust their schedules multiple times to ensure both teams can play on a world-class stage.
Why the WNBA ignored warnings raised two months ago
Several critical questions remain regarding the WNBA's decision-making process during the playoff scheduling phase. The Dream owners claim they raised specific concerns about NBA conflicts two months ago, yet they allege the league did not provide the necessary attention or urgency.
It remains unverified whether the WNBA underestimated the Dream's ability to reach the Finals or if the league simply lacks a robust protocol for managing shared-venue conflicts.. Additionally, the WNBA has not yet provided a formal comment to CNN regarding the specific allegations of negligence made by the Dream ownership group.
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