WNBA sells out today’s unusual finals day game
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ATLANTA -- Today’s Game 6 of the WNBA Finals between Atlanta and Golden State is a sellout despite its much-criticized 12:30 p.m. EDT tipoff, the Dream announced Wednesday.
The Valkyries lead the series 3-2 and can clinch their first WNBA title with a win in the matinee at State Farm Arena. The Dream need a win to force a Game 7 on Saturday night in California.
There were concerns the early tipoff would have the teams playing the potentially decisive Finals game in a half-empty arena because of fans having work and school obligations. Instead, the sellout means another Atlanta turnout of approximately 17,000 is expected for the third time in the series.
“I think it’s good,” Dream coach Karl Smesko said Wednesday. “I’m glad we’re at State Farm and they got everything worked out. Everybody understands it’s going to be an early start time. Hopefully the crowd gets there early and is ready to support us to a win.”
The Dream played most of their regular-season home games at Gateway Center Arena, which has a capacity of about 3,500. On Oct. 6, the team announced it will play all its home games at State Farm Arena beginning next season after landing a multiyear agreement with the venue.
For the Finals, however, the Dream and WNBA have had to negotiate scheduling conflicts because of a concert and NBA Hawks home games at State Farm Arena. Because the Hawks had a home game against Cleveland scheduled for to
From left, Golden State Valkyries guard Veronica Burton is guarded by Atlanta Dream guard Te-Hina Paopao and forward Angel Reese near the end of Game 5 of the WNBA Finals in San Francisco on Monday. (AP photo)
The decision generated criticism of the Dream, the Hawks and the WNBA. The Dream ownership group of Robyn and Larry Gottesdiener, Suzanne Abair and Renee Montgomery responded with an open letter to fans on Tuesday. The letter said the league was slow to respond to concerns about scheduling conflicts that were raised two months ago.
Good defense
The Valkyries vowed to address defensive breakdowns following a 97-71 loss to the Dream in Game 3 that left Atlanta with a 2-1 series lead.
Coach Natalie Nakase, center Kiah Stokes and the Valkyries found a fix, holding Angel Reese and the Dream to their lowest-scoring games of the series in a 67-62 win in Game 4 and a 64-55 win in Game 5.
After opening the Finals with three consecutive double-doubles, Reese has made only two field goals in each of the last two games.