Dreams face noon tip for title shot

The Atlanta Dream will tip off Game 6 of the WNBA Finals at 12:30 p.m. on Thursday, a start time chosen to avoid a conflict with the Atlanta Hawks rather than to suit the league or the players. The game is being played at Gateway Center Arena, the league's smallest venue with a capacity of only 3,500 seats.

Tickets for the matchup sold out within hours of going on sale Monday. Forward Angel Reese told reporters after Wednesday's practice that the sellout was expected. She said she knew how much the fans supported the team throughout the season and felt grateful to play in front of them one more time.

The unusual timing resulted from a scheduling dispute involving the team's home arenas. The Dream originally reserved only Gateway Center Arena for the playoffs, having played their regular-season games and the first two playoff games at State Farm Arena, which holds 17,000 fans. The Hawks, who play at State Farm Arena, had a home game at 8 p.m. on Thursday and would not release the building. A midday start was the only option that all parties could accept, replacing the originally planned 8 p.m. Eastern Time start.

The scheduling issue became public when Dream ownership criticized WNBA leadership. Other parties criticized the Dream organization in return. Coach Karl Smesko, who is in his second season, said the players have barely mentioned the dispute. He stated that the team is trying to focus on the basketball and is glad a solution was reached.

The game carries historical weight regardless of the outcome. It is the first Game 6 in WNBA Finals history, as the championship series moved to a best-of-seven format only in 2025. In that year's series, the Las Vegas Aces swept the Phoenix Mercury in four games.

On the court, the Dream face a tough defensive challenge. Atlanta and Golden State finished the season with the league's top two defenses, leading to low-scoring games. After Atlanta won Game 3 by a score of 97-91 to take a 2-1 series lead, the Golden State Valkyries won Game 4 in Atlanta 67-62 and Game 5 in San Francisco 64-55. Reese, who had been dominant earlier in the series, scored only 15 points combined in those last two games.

Reese, a third-year forward acquired from the Chicago Sky in the offseason and named to the All-WNBA second team in October, said a film session on Wednesday morning helped the team. She noted that many problems were self-inflicted, including missed shots, turnovers, and lapses in defensive principles. Rookie guard Isabele Borlase said she felt very good after the session. Reese added that everyone is in a great mindset right now.

A win for the Dream would force a Game 7 at Chase Center on Halloween. Veteran DeWanna Bonner said the team needs no special advice about the unusual schedule. She described the situation as win or die, adding that all they need is a court, a ball, and a hoop. Bonner called the timing talk something for the media and fans, noting that Atlanta will keep shooting despite offensive struggles. She said the team has not lost confidence and that it would be crazy to lose it.