Atlanta Dream says it warned the WNBA 2 months ago about scheduling conflict concerns. The league is hosting a finals game at lunchtime anyway

The WNBA's championship game is scheduled to take place at 12:30 p.m. ET on Thursday, despite the team's warning about potential scheduling conflicts months ago. The game moved from its originally planned 8 p.m. ET slot to accommodate a larger crowd at the arena where the NBA's Atlanta Hawks play. However, another NBA game already scheduled at the arena forced the league to move up the start time.

The Atlanta Dream, a championship contender, stated that they warned the WNBA about the scheduling issue, but their concerns were not given the attention they deserved. The decision to hold the game during lunchtime has received criticism from sports fans and media, as many may have difficulty watching the game during work hours.

While the game at the larger-capacity State Farm Arena is sold out, tickets have become significantly cheaper. Ratings for the game could be lower than for a primetime slot, although the first three finals games have averaged around 1.7 million viewers each. The smaller TV audience at 12 p.m. compared to 8 p.m. could further impact the ratings.

Despite the scheduling change, the WNBA has seen significant growth in recent years, with investments and a lucrative media-rights package contributing to its status as a prominent American sports league.