ESPN Insider Ramona Shelburne has chimed in with two options, which the WNBA would likely not go with for Game 6 at the State Farm Arena.
After the Golden State Valkyries grabbed a 67-62 win against the Atlanta Dream on Saturday, the WNBA Finals will go to six games at the very minimum.
However, the hosts, Atlanta, are yet to determine where the game is going to be played, as their Gateway Center Arena can host only 3,500 people. Games 3 and 4 were played at the State Farm Arena, but with the Hawks also playing on the same day, an alternative solution needs to be found for Game 6.
Several ideas have come to the forefront, including moving the game to Cleveland, but a fix has not been found.
Ramona Shelburne suggests Game 6 can be a matinee tip-off
The Dream have played all their playoff games at the State Farm Arena. Fans have been waiting for a solution to the Game 6 conundrum to book their tickets for the matchup.
Amid all the ideas floated, Ramona Shelburne also suggested two ways the game can be played at State Farm Arena, but it is unlikely that things will operate in such a manner.
“The two leading options of the not so great options are a matinee at State Farm Arena for Game 6 on Thursday in Atlanta or shifting Game 6 to Friday and Game 7 to Tuesday. Thus far the league doesn’t love the idea of a weekday matinee for a Finals game. Others don’t love the idea of 3 days between Games 5/6 AND 6/7,” Shelburne wrote on her X account.
The Dream and the Hawks played a double-header at the State Farm Arena for Game 4, which is why a matinee for Game 6 could have fixed the situation. But as it is during the week, a matinee game would not attract large crowds.
“We are waiting to hear from the league if any changes can be made to allow us to play in State Farm Arena. If not, the game will be played in Gateway Center Arena,” a spokesperson from the Dream said.
While this is proving to be a major distraction from the brilliant Finals, the good news is that State Farm Arena will host all of the Dream’s games in 2027.
Going into Game 5, there is no solution to the problem, but players from both teams will be trying to block out the noise and focus on the matchup, as the winner will have the advantage of closing out the series once the venue is confirmed.
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