WNBA Finals Scheduling: Dream Challenge Thursday Lunchtime Game

The Atlanta Dream are contesting the WNBA's decision to move Game 6 of the Finals from an evening start to a Thursday lunchtime slot on October 29. The team will face the Golden State Valkyries at State Farm Arena in Atlanta. The new tipoff time is 12:30 p.m. ET, replacing the previously scheduled 8 p.m. start.

The league stated that the earlier game time was selected to accommodate an Atlanta Hawks NBA game planned for the same venue later that evening. The Dream's ownership group issued an open letter to fans questioning the timing of this scheduling change.

Owners noted that potential conflicts with NBA games at State Farm Arena had been raised two months prior. They argued that these concerns did not receive adequate attention before the Finals schedule was finalized. The letter suggested the league may not have fully accounted for Atlanta reaching the championship series.

The ownership group did not confirm a specific reason for the oversight but implied the Dream might not have been expected to advance to this stage. They emphasized that the team is present in the Finals regardless of prior expectations. The owners expressed disappointment with the afternoon shift while acknowledging the efforts made by the venue and the NBA team.

The letter thanked the Hawks and State Farm Arena for adjusting their schedules three times to fit the Finals. This acknowledgment came alongside the owners' criticism of the final outcome. The dispute has attracted public attention beyond the league's usual audience.

Rapper Flavor Flav responded to the scheduling issue by proposing that employers make Thursday a paid holiday for fans. He shared a mock letter on social media requesting that workers be given the day off to watch the game. Former U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton supported this idea on social media.

Clinton responded to Flav's proposal by writing that she endorsed the message. The public figures' involvement has amplified the discussion around the scheduling dispute. The game remains scheduled for October 29 at 12:30 p.m. ET.