The WNBA (Women's National Basketball Association) has announced changes to the 2026 Finals schedule. This will allow the Atlanta Dream to host their home games against the Golden State Valkyries at the larger State Farm Arena in Atlanta, Georgia. According to the league's announcement on October 13, these changes apply to Games 3 and 4 of the 'best-of-seven' championship series. Game 3 has been moved up by a day, while Game 4 will start earlier than originally scheduled. This venue change will enable thousands more fans to attend and watch the Finals matches in person.
WNBA Finals Schedule Changes
Game 3, originally scheduled for Thursday, October 22, will now be played on Wednesday, October 21, at 8:00 PM (Eastern Time - ET). Game 4 will still take place on Saturday, October 24, but its start time has been moved from 3:30 PM to 1:00 PM (ET). Both games will be played at State Farm Arena, the home court of the NBA's Atlanta Hawks. To accommodate the 'Dream's' final game, the Hawks have also adjusted the start time of their regular-season home opener against the Houston Rockets on October 24.
The WNBA stated that these schedule changes were made through the collaborative efforts of the Dream, the Valkyries, the Hawks, State Farm Arena, and broadcasting partners.
Why Did the WNBA Change the Finals Schedule?
The primary reason for these changes is to provide Atlanta with a larger venue for its home games during the championship series. The 'Dream' team's regular home arena, 'Gateway Center Arena,' has a seating capacity of approximately 3,500 for basketball games, whereas 'State Farm Arena' can accommodate over 17,000 fans.
The initial schedule had created conflicts at 'State Farm Arena': a concert by the artist 'Somber' was set for October 22, while an 'Atlanta Hawks' home game was scheduled for October 24. Rescheduling Game 3 and moving up the start time for Game 4 resolved these scheduling issues. Welcoming this arrangement, WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert stated that the venue change would create a better atmosphere for the finals and allow thousands more fans from the Southeast region to watch the championship game live.
Golden State Valkyries vs Atlanta Dream: Finals Preview
In the 2026 WNBA Finals, the No. 2 seed Golden State Valkyries will face the No. 4 seed Atlanta Dream. Golden State will host the first two games at San Francisco's Chase Center, while Atlanta will host Games 3 and 4 at State Farm Arena. The Valkyries enter the series aiming to cap off their rapid rise in the league by winning the championship, whereas the Dream are making their first Finals appearance since 2013. Atlanta reached the championship series by defeating the New York Liberty in the semifinals.
The Finals will be played in a 'best-of-seven' format, utilizing a 2-2-1-1-1 home-court arrangement. Golden State will host Games 1 and 2, and Atlanta will host Games 3 and 4. If necessary, Game 5 will be played in San Francisco, Game 6 in Atlanta, and Game 7 at Chase Center. However, there remains uncertainty regarding the venue for a potential Game 6, as the Atlanta Hawks are scheduled to play at State Farm Arena on October 29.
Updated schedule for the 2026 WNBA Finals
- Game 1: October 17 — Atlanta Dream vs Golden State Valkyries (at Golden State Valkyries' home court)
- Game 2: October 19 — Atlanta Dream vs Golden State Valkyries (at Golden State Valkyries' home court)
- Game 3: October 21 — Golden State Valkyries vs Atlanta Dream (at Atlanta Dream's home court)
- Game 4: October 24 — Golden State Valkyries vs Atlanta Dream (at Atlanta Dream's home court)
- Game 5: October 26 — Atlanta Dream vs Golden State Valkyries (at Golden State Valkyries' home court), if necessary
- Game 6: October 29 — Golden State Valkyries vs Atlanta Dream (at Atlanta Dream's home court), if necessary
- Game 7: October 31 — Atlanta Dream vs Golden State Valkyries (at Golden State Valkyries' home court), if necessary
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