Down 2-1 to the Atlanta Dream, the Golden State Valkyries delivered a gutty win on Saturday to win Game 4 of the WNBA Finals and ensure the series lasts at least six games. As a result, it's renewed concerns about where Game 6 — an Atlanta home game — will be played.
As the New York Times previously reported, venue issues loomed large heading into the WNBA Finals as the Atlanta Dream's regular season home's max capacity can only house 3,500 fans.
Thankfully, a conflicting concert and Atlanta Hawks game slated to take place at the 18,000-capacity State Farm Arena were moved to accommodate Game 3 and Game 4 of the WNBA Finals, which the Dream hosted. But with the Valkyries emerging victorious in an effort that largely showcased their defensive strengths, there's renewed uncertainty over where the Dream will host the Valkyries for a now-guaranteed Game 6.
As SFGate reports, Atlanta Hawks chief operating officer Steve Koonin is warning fans to prepare themselves for that game to be played at the much smaller Gateway Center Arena.
Speaking with Atlanta sports talk radio station 92.9 The Game, Koonin told the hosts of the Dukes and Bell show that the Dream's next home game being played at Gateway “might be unavoidable.” Part of the issue apparently derives from a previously scheduled NBA game at State Farm Arena for the same night between the Atlanta Hawks and the Cleveland Cavaliers.
“You can’t go move a Cleveland game without affecting 10 other games," Koonin said, per SFGate. "It’s dominoes."
Already, adjustments to the intended schedule have been made to allow the Dream to host home games at State Farm Arena throughout their 2026 playoff run.
That includes moving the date of Game 3 of the WNBA Finals up by a day and adjusting the tip-off time of Game 4 by 2.5 hours to allow for a rare double-header featuring the Dream in the afternoon and the Hawks season home opener later tonight.
The Valkyries are currently the most valuable women's professional franchise in the world, per ABC7. They are also the first franchise to reach a WNBA Finals in only its second season. Game 5 of the WNBA FInals is set to tip-off at Chase Center in San Francisco on Monday night.
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