For several days, the Atlanta Dream had been embroiled in a controversy that threatened to sully the franchise’s first appearance in a WNBA Finals series for 13 years: where the team would play its home games in the championship series.
But on Tuesday, multiple reports stated that the Dream’s two Finals home games would be moving to a bigger stage, allowing Atlantans to celebrate and cheer on Angel Reese and company from State Farm Arena.
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Front Office Sports had first indicated Tuesday that the WNBA was exploring a schedule shift for Games 3 and 4 of the Finals, which would help accommodate the Dream’s move to State Farm Arena amid previous indications that these two games would be played at the 3,500-seat Gateway Center Arena.
And shortly after, Zach Klein of WSB-TV in Atlanta and Meghan L. Hall of USA TODAY Sports separately reported that all sides — the Dream, the Golden State Valkyries, the WNBA, the NBA, the Atlanta Hawks and the relevant broadcasting partners — had agreed to move around game times so that the WNBA Finals can be played inside the 17,608-seat State Farm Arena, where all Dream home games have been played this postseason.
Breaking: Per league sources… The Atlanta Dream will now be playing Games 3 and 4 at State Farm Arena – Game 3 is now moved up to Wednesday the 21st at 8 pm – Game 4 will still be on Saturday the 24th, but at 1pm – Hawks home opener now at 8:30 pm Amazing to see Hawks & State Farm coming together to do everything to make this happen
— Zach Klein (@ZachKleinWSB) October 13, 2026
Shortly after local reports, the WNBA confirmed the move in an official statement.
“We are grateful for the efforts made by numerous stakeholders, including the Dream, the Valkyries, the Hawks, State Farm Arena, and NBC Sports and USA Sports,” WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert said. “The change of venue dramatically expands the seating capacity and ensures that the Dream will be able to provide an extraordinary atmosphere for the first WNBA Finals game to be played in the Atlanta market since 2013. We are pleased that thousands more fans across the Southeast region will have the opportunity to experience the ultimate WNBA action – the WNBA Finals – in person.”
Game 3 of the Finals will take place on Wednesday, Oct. 21, as opposed to the original date of Thursday the 22nd. It will retain the 8 p.m. ET tip-off time.
Game 4 had been moved to 1 p.m. ET from its original 3:30 p.m. start time on Saturday, Oct. 24. That date brought the Finals into conflict with the Hawks’ home opener against the Houston Rockets; that game has been moved to 8:30 p.m.
🚨 Schedule Update 🚨 Games 3 and 4 of the 2026 WNBA Finals between the @valkyries and @AtlantaDream will be played at State Farm Arena. Game 3 is now Wednesday instead of Thursday and Game 4 has been moved up from 3:30pm/ET to 1pm/ET. https://t.co/45Ax6ZvYo6
— WNBA (@WNBA) October 13, 2026
According to Hall, Game 6 of the Finals — if necessary — is slated to tip off from Gateway Center Arena, in what would be the Dream’s final game at that venue before a permanent move to State Farm Arena in 2027.
However, Hall reports that “additional discussions could happen” in the coming days on relocating that game as well.
