Women’s Sports Bar Owners: Matinee WNBA Finals Game a ‘Slap in the Face’
The Game 6 reschedule will likely mean thousands in lost revenue.
On Thursday, the WNBA shifted Game 6 of the Finals to a matinee slot, sparking outrage among women's sports bar owners. Clarissa Flores, owner of Level Sporting Club in Chicago, expressed her shock on Instagram, questioning the decision to schedule the game at 12:30 p.m. ET on a Thursday. The change moved the previously scheduled 8 p.m. tip-off to an early time, forcing fans who were at work or school to tune in.
Many in the women's sports bar industry were taken aback by the move, as the WNBA Finals are crucial for generating revenue and demonstrating support for women's basketball. Owners of various sports bars, including Blazers in Brooklyn and Rough & Tumble in Seattle, emphasized that the early game would negatively impact their businesses and discourage fans from attending.
Jenny Nguyen, founder of The Sports Bra, warned that scheduling the game at such an inconvenient time could lead to lower TV viewership, potentially undermining the perception of a strong fanbase. The Valkyries, currently leading the series 3–2, would secure their first-ever WNBA Finals title with a victory in Game 6, slated to tip off at 9:30 a.m. in San Francisco.
Despite the WNBA's logistical challenges, the owners argue that the league should prioritize the fans' ability to watch the final game of the tournament.
Written by urgent.news from Front Office Sports's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
Also reported by 1 other outlet
- WNBA Finals Game 6 Will Test Daytime Sports Viewership frontofficesports.com
