Dream owners question noon Finals start

The Atlanta Dream face the Golden State Valkyries at 12:30 p.m. Eastern Time on Thursday, October 29. The game was originally scheduled for 8 p.m. at State Farm Arena. The earlier start time changes the viewing experience for fans who work standard weekday hours.

The WNBA moved the tipoff to accommodate an Atlanta Hawks NBA game later that evening. League officials stated the shift was necessary to manage scheduling conflicts at the shared venue.

The Dream’s ownership group raised concerns about potential NBA conflicts two months ago. They said the league did not treat those warnings with enough urgency. The owners argued that the possibility of Atlanta reaching the Finals was not fully considered during the planning phase.

In an open letter to fans, the owners questioned whether the Dream’s presence in the championship series was part of the original schedule. They suggested the team might not have been expected to advance this far. The group did not confirm either explanation as the official reason for the change.

“Whatever the reason, the reality is that we are here,” the owners wrote in the letter. They expressed disappointment with the afternoon start while acknowledging the efforts of other parties. The Dream thanked the Hawks and State Farm Arena for adjusting their schedules three times.

Public reaction to the lunchtime start extended beyond the local fan base. Rapper Flavor Flav proposed that Thursday become a paid holiday so employees could watch the game. He shared a mock letter urging employers to grant workers the day off.

Former U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton supported the proposal on social media. She replied to Flavor Flav’s message with the words: “I endorse this message.” The game is set for Thursday at State Farm Arena.