As Game 6 of the WNBA Finals approaches, the Atlanta Dream have released an open letter addressed to the city, voicing significant concerns over venue arrangements and scheduling conflicts with the NBA’s Atlanta Hawks as both teams prepare to share State Farm Arena on the same day.
The Dream are scheduled to host the Golden State Valkyries at 12:30 p.m. EST at State Farm Arena. Later that same evening, the Hawks are set to host the Cleveland Cavaliers in an NBA game at 8:00 p.m. EST. The congested schedule for the potential series-deciding game creates a scenario where the visiting Valkyries could potentially celebrate their first WNBA title in franchise history inside the Dream’s practice facility rather than on the main arena floor.
The open letter began by expressing gratitude to supporters before diving into the logistical hurdles faced during the postseason. According to the letter, the organization raised concerns with the WNBA two months ago when playoff dates and times were finalized, noting immediate conflicts with NBA games at State Farm Arena. The franchise stated that those early warnings did not receive adequate attention or urgency from league officials.
In the letter, the team pointed directly to assumptions about their competitive trajectory. The organization wrote that it may have been assumed they would not advance this far in the postseason, suggesting their place in the championship series was not properly accounted for in advance.
Playing a midday game on a Thursday was described as an outcome the team neither chose nor fought for. The franchise noted that while they hold deep affection and nostalgia for Gateway Center Arena—their home court since 2021 with a capacity of 3,500—they believed fans and the city deserved to witness the historic series on a world-class stage at State Farm Arena, which holds up to 17,000 spectators and adjusted its schedule three times to accommodate the playoff run.
The letter emphasized the relationship between the city’s professional basketball franchises. While acknowledging that the Hawks and the Dream are distinct teams with separate histories, the letter stressed that they share a community and a joint responsibility to showcase Atlanta on major stages.
Concluding on a resilient note, the franchise expressed pride in representing the city, reaching the Finals, and seeing the local community rally around the team, while reaffirming their commitment to continued growth and future victories.
