WNBA Finals Game 6 Starts at Noon Because Hawks Aren't Moving

The Atlanta Dream and the Golden State Valkyries will meet in Game 6 of the 2026 WNBA Finals at 12:30 p.m. EST on Thursday. The midday start time has generated immediate backlash because the game is scheduled to air in the middle of the workday rather than during evening prime time.

The scheduling conflict stems from a space limitation at the Dream's regular season venue, the 5,000-seat Gateway Center Arena. Officials determined the arena was too small for the finals crowd. Consequently, the league moved Games 3 and 4 to the 17,000-seat State Farm Arena, the home of the NBA's Atlanta Hawks, on Oct. 13.

When the series reached Game 6, the Dream's schedule clashed with the Hawks' regular season slate. The Hawks are set to host the Cleveland Cavaliers at 8 p.m. EST on Thursday. Instead of shifting the NBA game, the league placed the WNBA finals contest at 12:30 p.m. EST.

Chiney Ogwumike, an ESPN basketball analyst and former WNBA player, criticized the decision on air this week. She stated, "The players, the fans deserve this being in primetime. The fact that this was dealt with so last-minute is an epic fail." A viral TikTok post from a fan echoed this sentiment, calling the 12:30 p.m. start time "quite literally insane."

The Dream's owners have directed their frustration at the league. In an open letter to the city this week, the team stated that they raised the scheduling issue months prior. The letter noted, "Our concerns did not receive the attention, the urgency that they deserved." The WNBA has not issued a public response to the criticism.

Despite the early start, the game is sold out. The series has already set a television record, with Game 4 drawing nearly 2 million viewers. The Valkyries currently lead the best-of-seven series 3-2. They are one win away from securing the first championship in the two-year-old franchise's history.

Valkyries players have encouraged fans to take the day off to watch the game, which will air at 9:30 a.m. PST. The outcome of the series will be determined on Thursday afternoon at State Farm Arena.