Dream fans show out in big way for early WNBA Finals Game 6 start time after scheduling drama

On Thursday, the Atlanta Dream hosted the WNBA Finals Game 6 against the Golden State Valkyries at the State Farm Arena in Atlanta. The game's start time of 12:30 pm ET was a result of scheduling drama, as the Atlanta Hawks had a home game later that evening against the Cleveland Cavaliers. Despite the game occurring during the workday, fans in Atlanta made an effort to attend the early afternoon match at State Farm Arena, as evidenced by the sold-out crowd.

This was the second time this series saw a scheduling conflict with the Hawks, who previously adjusted their Game 4 against the Houston Rockets. Many criticized the WNBA for poor planning, with the alternative option being for the Dream to host the Valkyries at a smaller Gateway Center in College Park, Georgia. The Dream started Game 6 strongly, leading 27-10 in the first quarter, aiming to turn the series around for a possible Game 7 on Saturday.