After some scheduling uncertainty, Game 6 of the WNBA Finals has been confirmed for Thursday at State Farm Arena. Angel Reese and the Atlanta Dream will host Gabby Williams’ Golden State Valkyries in a showdown that tips off at 12:30 p.m. ET.
Although this is a major development for the championship series, which is tied at 2-2, analyst Jason Whitlock slammed the WNBA in a tweet posted on Monday, while also appearing to downplay the star power of Reese and other big names in the series.
“Upstart leagues that lose millions of dollars every year for 30 years don’t get to dictate when they play inside any arena. It’s a charity league with one major attraction. The major attraction is out of the playoffs. Stop the fake outrage. Anybody who has watched the first 4 games of the series knows exactly why the 12:30 tip makes sense.”
In all likelihood, the “one major attraction” that Whitlock is referring to is Caitlin Clark, whom he once likened to a soap opera superstar.
In Whitlock’s point of view, the WNBA has no business trying to wiggle its way into State Farm Arena on Thursday night (when the Atlanta Hawks play a home game) when the Dream-Valkyries series apparently doesn’t have adequate star power.
Chiney Ogwumike Points to Angel Reese as Key to Dream’s Game 5 Performance
As for ESPN’s Chiney Ogwumike, Angel Reese could very well have the Dream’s season in her hands.
When asked on Monday’s “SportsCenter” about the key to Atlanta’s Game 5 performance, Ogwumike had a simple answer:
“Two words: Angel Reese. Because when she has big games, Atlanta wins. When she struggles, that’s when the Valkyries take advantage.”
To Ogwumike’s point, Reese had her worst game of the series when she finished with just eight points and nine rebounds in Game 4. That night, the Valkyries held the Dream to 33.3% shooting as they tied the series 2-2.
Game 5, which will be held on the Valkyries’ home floor of Chase Center, is set to tip off at 8 p.m. ET on Monday.
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