Atlanta Dream owners fault WNBA scheduling, mayor urges local flexibility
With Game 6 set for a midday start, Dream ownership questions league planning while Mayor Andre Dickens asks local schools and businesses to allow fans to watch.
By Mei Wojcik ·
The Atlanta Dream ownership group has publicly criticized the WNBA over the scheduling of the conference finals, arguing that earlier warnings about time conflicts were ignored. The team now faces a must-win Game 6 against the Golden State Valkyries on Thursday at 12:30 p.m. at Gateway Center Arena. This start time was moved from its original 8 p.m. slot.
The Dream trails Golden State 3-2 in the best-of-seven series following a 64-55 loss on Monday. A victory on Thursday is required for Atlanta to keep its championship bid alive. The afternoon start creates a direct conflict with standard work and school hours, prompting a response from local leadership.
In an open letter to the city, Dream owners stated they raised concerns two months ago when the WNBA finalized playoff dates. They noted that the league’s schedule overlapped with NBA games at State Farm Arena. The ownership group said it repeated these issues as the team advanced through the tournament. "Our concerns did not receive the attention, nor the urgency that they deserved," the owners wrote.
The letter explained that the team preferred to play the finals at State Farm Arena rather than the smaller Gateway Center. However, ownership admitted the midday Thursday start was not their ideal solution. "Playing a midday game on a Thursday is not what we would have chosen and not what we fought for," the letter read. The owners thanked the Atlanta Hawks and State Farm Arena for adjusting their schedule three times to accommodate the Dream.
The Hawks moved their Thursday game against the Cleveland Cavaliers to 8 p.m. to clear the venue for the WNBA match. The ownership group also thanked fans for managing the postseason schedule and called for better planning in future seasons. "The Atlanta Dream has earned the right to be taken seriously," the letter concluded.
Mayor Andre Dickens sent a separate message to Atlanta employers and educators. He asked them to provide flexibility for employees and students who support the team on Thursday. Dickens encouraged leaders to let fans watch the game on devices or attend in person without feeling they are missing work or class. "So don't make your students or employees sneak a peek at the game," Dickens wrote.
The mayor urged the city to embrace the team's push for a WNBA title. "Let them watch. Let them cheer. Let them DREAM!" he wrote.
Source: KCNC-TV
