The Golden State Valkyries have the chance to clinch their first WNBA championship when they face the Atlanta Dream at State Farm Arena in Atlanta on Thursday, Oct. 29.
Golden State is ahead 3-2 in the seven-game series.
However, Game 6 is not slated for a primetime start.
The Dream and the Valkyries will tip-off at 12:30 p.m. ET — that’s 9:30 a.m. on the West Coast — on Thursday. Golden State fans will be watching this game on USA Network while sipping coffee and eating breakfast.
Why are the WNBA Finals being played in the middle of a workday on the East Coast and during brunch hours on the West Coast?
In short, the Dream, Valkyries and WNBA wanted to play the Finals in a larger venue than the Dream’s typical home venue, Gateway Center Arena —
which seats only 3,500 people. So, like Games 3 and 4 in Atlanta, Game 6 was moved to the 17,000-seat State Farm Arena, home of the NBA’s Atlanta Hawks. However, the Hawks already had a regular-season NBA game scheduled for 8 p.m. ET on Thursday against the Cleveland Cavaliers.
The game will be played at 12:30 p.m. tip-off to allow arena staff to flip it in time for the NBA game.
"I mean, it's the (WNBA) Finals. You just got to do what you got to do," Dream guard Allisha Gray of the early tipoff. "We locked in on winning Game 6. I don't care playing at 8 a.m., 1 p.m., midnight. We got a championship to win."
Game 6 being moved to a matinee has garnered plenty of feedback since it was announced Monday, from Golden State Warriors coach Steve Kerr sarcastically saying it's “better than playing at the YMCA.” Atlanta Dream ownership said it raised concerns about scheduling conflicts involving the 2026 WNBA Finals "months ago" in an open letter addressing criticism of Game 6's early tipoff at State Farm Arena.
In addition to being aired live on USA Network, Game 6 will be simulcast on E! and SYFY. Those who can’t wake up early or skip out on work for Game 6 of the WNBA Finals between the Valkyries and Dream will get a second chance to watch in primetime. The potential championship matchup will be re-aired on USA Network and CNBC at 8 p.m. ET on Thursday.
Should the Dream win Thursday to force a Game 7, the winner-take-all contest will be played Saturday, Oct. 31, at 8 p.m. ET, airing on USA Network, CNBC and Peacock.
"It doesn't matter what time (Game 6) is. At the end of the day, we just need 94 feet, two hoops in each other," said Valkyries center Kiah Stokes, who's played her way into the Finals MVP conversation. "It's a close-out game. Atlanta is a great team and we don't want to give them basically any life. So as much as we love 'Ballhalla,' we don't want to come back here. So we need to go in with the mentality that we have to win. It's do or die."
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: WNBA Finals Game 6 gets unusual midday start. Here’s the reason
