Bill Simmons calls out WNBA’s ‘dumbest leadership season’ after Valkyries-Dream Game 6 announcement appeared first on ClutchPoints. Add ClutchPoints as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
On Monday evening, Game 5 of the WNBA Finals between the Atlanta Dream and Golden State Valkyries will take place, with the series tied at 2-2. Meanwhile, earlier in the day, the teams learned that Game 6 of the series back in Atlanta will take place on Thursday afternoon, avoiding a scheduling conflict at State Farm Arena with the Atlanta Hawks, who will host the Cleveland Cavaliers later that night.
Now, sports media personality Bill Simmons of The Ringer has put the WNBA on blast for its handling of the situation.
“Incredible! A heroic finishing touch to one of the dumbest leadership seasons in professional sports history. They’ve had like 12 major decisions in 2026 and somehow went 0 for 12. People want to like this league!” he wrote on X, formerly Twitter.
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Indeed, having an afternoon game for the WNBA Finals, in what will be a closeout game for one of the teams, is certainly not an ideal situation for the league. Earlier this week, the WNBA played Game 4 of the series at State Farm Arena in the afternoon, with the Hawks agreeing to move their game vs the Houston Rockets to later at night in order to accommodate the league’s lack of planning.
Meanwhile, the alternative option would have been to host the game at the Gateway Center in College Park, Georgia, which has a significantly smaller capacity than State Farm Arena.
Fans will find out which team will have the opportunity to close out the series based on the outcome of Monday’s Game 5, which is slated for 8:00 pm ET at the Chase Center.
Related: WNBA Finals trophy ceremony might move to practice court if Valkyries-Dream ends in Game 6