{
  "id": 14259066,
  "title": "WNBA alters Finals schedule to move Atlanta games to bigger arena",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/13/wnba-alters-finals-schedule-to-move-atlanta-games-to-bigger-arena",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-10-13T18:00:43.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Yahoo Sports",
    "slug": "yahoo-sports",
    "url": "https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/wnba-alters-finals-schedule-move-180043634.html"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Just four days prior to the start of the WNBA Finals, the league announced changes to its schedule so that the Atlanta Dream could move their home games to a larger venue. The WNBA announced on Tuesday that Games 3 and 4 of the Finals would be played at State Farm Arena, the home of the NBA's Hawks, instead of at the team's regular home, Gateway Center Arena, which has a seating capacity of only 3,500.\n\nThe first change involves Game 3, which was originally scheduled for Thursday, October 22. The game will now be played one day earlier, on Wednesday, October 21, at 8 p.m. ET. The tip-off time and broadcast details remain the same, with the game airing on USA Network and CNBC, and streaming on Peacock.\n\nGame 4, scheduled for Saturday, October 24, will be shifted two and a half hours earlier to 1 p.m. ET. NBC will continue to broadcast this game, and Peacock will provide streaming. The Hawks' regular-season home opener will be moved back by 30 minutes, with the new tip-off time set for 8:30 p.m. ET.\n\nThe decision to move the games was driven by the need to avoid conflicts with other events. Game 3's conflict was with a concert at State Farm Arena, while Game 4 conflicted with the Hawks' regular-season opener. Other potential locations, such as Gas South Arena in Duluth, which can accommodate over 13,000 fans, were considered but ultimately, the WNBA managed to reschedule the games for downtown Atlanta.\n\nThe WNBA's broadcast partners also supported the changes. USA Network, which would have aired reruns of the drama series 9-1-1 on Wednesday night, was not significantly impacted by the change. However, NBC had to preempt a Premier League match between Tottenham Hotspur and Chelsea, originally scheduled to air on Saturday before the WNBA Finals Game 4. If the series extends to Game 6 on Thursday, October 29, the WNBA may need to rearrange its schedule once again.",
  "summary": "Just four days before Game 1 of the WNBA Finals tips off, the league is altering its schedule so the Atlanta Dream can move their home games to a bigger arena. The WNBA announced Tuesday that it is moving Games 3 and 4 of the WNBA Finals so the Atlanta Dream can host at State…",
  "key_points": [
    "WNBA moves Atlanta games to State Farm Arena due to conflicts",
    "Game 3 rescheduled to October 21, Game 4 to October 24",
    "Broadcast partners support schedule changes"
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}