What changed
The Golden State Valkyries lead the Atlanta Dream 3-2 in the WNBA Finals, with Game 6 set for Thursday, October 29 at 4:30pm. A Valkyries win would deliver a championship in the franchise’s second season; an Atlanta win would create the first Game 7 in WNBA history.
The game is sold out despite its unusual 12:30pm tip-off in Atlanta, or 9:30am in San Francisco.
Why it matters
This is a championship game with a genuine fork in the road. Golden State can finish the series now. Atlanta must win to keep the season alive and push the league into a first-ever deciding seventh game.
The awkward start time reflects a venue problem as much as a television schedule. Atlanta’s usual Gateway Center Arena holds about 3,500 people, and its date could have clashed with an Atlanta Hawks game. State Farm Arena, with 17,000 seats, is expected to become the Dream’s full-time home, giving future Finals games a larger stage.
The timing has produced jokes from players and coaches, but the sellout is the serious part. The WNBA season has drawn around 3.8 million fans, with average attendance around 11,500, up about 4.5% from the previous season. However Thursday ends, the league will crown a new champion after a record-setting year.
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