Atlanta Dream force Game 7 after 80-69 win over Golden State

Scheduling friction between the Atlanta Dream and the Atlanta Hawks nearly derailed the WNBA Finals before Thursday afternoon. The two professional basketball teams, which do not share an owner, clashed over time slots at State Farm Arena. The conflict forced the Dream to play a midday, midweek game in front of a full house.

The Dream defeated the Golden State Valkyries 80-69 to force a deciding Game 7. The victory came after the Dream’s 3,500-seat home venue was deemed too small for the first Finals appearance since 2013. Consequently, the team played its postseason games at the Hawks’ larger arena. The midday slot was a direct result of a conflict with the Hawks’ regular-season game against the Cleveland Cavaliers.

In an open letter released this week, the Dream stated that the league did not give the scheduling issues the attention or urgency they deserved. Players and fans expressed frustration with the process, even as the series delivered strong performance metrics. The Finals have attracted record viewership, with an average of 2.1 million viewers watching Game 1.

Angel Reese led the Dream with 15 points, 14 rebounds, and six assists. She credited the energy in the building for the team's performance. “You could definitely tell we got our swagger back,” Reese said. She also thanked the fans for showing up at 12:30 p.m. Eastern Time despite competing obligations at work and school.

Rhyne Howard provided the offensive spark in the first half. Her hot streak helped the Dream build a 20-point lead before the break. Howard predicted the crowd would leave satisfied after the win. “Now they can leave with a better taste in their mouth,” Howard said, noting that fans could enjoy the rest of their day without worrying about returning to work.

The win avoided the optical awkwardness of crowning a champion on a weekday afternoon. Valkyries fans in the Bay Area had to tune in at 9:30 a.m. Pacific Time to watch their young team seek a first title. With the series now tied, the next game will determine the winner of the championship.