{"id":949361,"date":"2026-10-28T12:14:08","date_gmt":"2026-10-28T12:14:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/949361\/"},"modified":"2026-10-28T12:14:08","modified_gmt":"2026-10-28T12:14:08","slug":"dream-ownership-blame-wnba-leadership-over-wnba-finals-game-6-scheduling","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/949361\/","title":{"rendered":"Dream ownership blame WNBA leadership over WNBA Finals Game 6 scheduling"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Dream said that they \u201craised concerns about scheduling conflicts between the WNBA Finals and other events at the city\u2019s State Farm Arena months ago.\u201d The team\u2019s owners Larry and Robyn Gottesdiener, Suzanne Abair and Renee Montgomery, in a letter to the city of Atlanta, said that the issues were \u201cknown to the Dream and brought to the league\u2019s attention,\u201d but their concerns were \u201clargely ignored.\u201d The letter read, \u201cOur concerns did not receive the attention, nor the urgency that they deserved.\u201d The letter also said the 12:30pm ET tip-off on Thursday<\/a> is \u201cnot what we would have chosen and not what we fought for\u201d (CNN.com, 10\/27<\/a>). The potential scheduling issues for the Dream\u2019s Finals games were \u201craised \u2018weeks ago\u2019 when it became apparent Atlanta would likely make the playoffs,\u201d according to sources cited by USA TODAY. Concerns with the Dream\u2019s arena size<\/a> were \u201cthen brought up again after the team secured its postseason spot,\u201d then came to the \u201cforefront ahead of the start to the WNBA Finals\u201d (USA TODAY, 10\/27<\/a>).<\/p>\n

The Dream were the only playoff team \u201cscheduled opposite the NBA team in the same city,\u201d according to a source cited by USA TODAY. No other playoff team \u201chad a potential conflict with their \u2018brother\u2019 team\u201d (USA TODAY, 10\/27<\/a>). A source, cited by THE ATHLETIC, said that the Hawks-Cavs game<\/a>, which will be played Thursday night, \u201cwas indeed moveable.\u201d A memo noted that the WNBA \u201csent out the \u2018playoff hold dates\u2019 to team presidents, general managers and scheduling contacts on Dec. 4, 2025.\u201d All WNBA teams had until Dec. 31 to \u201crespond to the league, detailing the status of every playoff date, confirming their arena\u2019s availability or any conflict.\u201d If there was any conflict, teams were \u201casked to outline the \u2018nature of the conflict\u2019 as well as whether there was a buy-out option\u201d (THE ATHLETIC, 10\/27<\/a>).<\/p>\n

The Atlanta Dream ownership group has released a statement regarding the matinee time change for Game 6, in part saying \u201cplaying a midday game on a Thursday is not what we would have chosen and not what we fought for.\u201d <\/p>\n

The letter says they raised scheduling concerns to the\u2026 pic.twitter.com\/2vuXIkkKbh<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Kendra Andrews (@kendra__andrews) October 28, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n