The WNBA Finals are guaranteed to go to a Game 6, but that development comes with a significant problem: As of Sunday afternoon, no one knows where or when that game will be played.The WNBA, NBA, Golden State Valkyries, Atlanta Dream and Atlanta Hawks are all trying to figure out the best solution to that problem, with a WNBA spokesperson telling ESPN, “We will continue to explore all options.”The main issue revolves around the Dream’s usual home arena, Gateway Center Arena. That stadium holds just 3,500 people, the smallest stadium capacity in the league. With interest in the Dream high during the team’s playoff run, the team has played every home playoff game at State Farm Arena to meet fan demand. State Farm Arena — where the Hawks play their home games — holds 17,000 fans. The Dream sold out that arena for both Game 3 and Game 4 of the Finals.That arrangement, however, has already been tested this postseason. With the NBA regular season in full swing, Games 3 and 4 of the WNBA Finals had to be altered so the Dream could play both games at State Farm Arena. The WNBA moved up Game 3 by one day to ensure the Dream could play there. Game 4 was moved to much earlier in the day so that both the Dream and Hawks could play at the stadium on the same day. While the WNBA could try similar strategies for Game 6, nothing has been decided yet. As of Sunday afternoon, Game 6 is supposed to be played Thursday, Oct. 29 at 8 p.m. ET. That same day, the Hawks are scheduled to take on the Cleveland Cavaliers at State Farm Arena at 7 p.m. ET.To try and get around that, the WNBA has reportedly offered to shift both Game 6 and a possible Game 7 to different dates to ensure Game 6 could be held at State Farm Arena and that both teams would have adequate time to rest ahead of a possible Game 7, per ESPN. If the series goes to a Game 7, it would be held at the Chase Center in San Francisco.That proposal would involve Game 6 being held Friday, Oct. 30. If a Game 7 was needed, it would be moved from Saturday, Oct. 31 to Tuesday, Nov. 3.In order for that proposal to go into effect, both the Dream and Valkyries would have to approve those changes. While playoff scheduling has been a significant issue for the Dream this season, it will be far less of a barrier in the future. Starting next season, the Dream will play their home games at State Farm Arena, which should lead to — presumably — no scheduling conflicts with the Hawks.
Content Source: Yahoo News
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