Dreams Force Game 7 as 17,000 Fill State Farm Arena at Noon
A midday sellout crowd supported Atlanta to an 80-69 victory over Golden State, ending a scheduling dispute and sending the WNBA Finals to a decisive seventh game.
By Emma Foster ·
The Atlanta Dream defeated the Golden State Valkyries 80-69 on Thursday, forcing a Game 7 in the WNBA Finals. The win occurred during a midday matinee at State Farm Arena, a schedule the team had previously criticized. A crowd of 17,000 filled the venue for the 12:30 p.m. Eastern Time start.
The attendance figure stands out against the backdrop of the team's recent scheduling struggles. The Dream did not secure a more favorable time slot after a conflict with the NBA's Atlanta Hawks, who share the arena. The league placed the game in a midweek, midday slot despite the high stakes of the Finals series.
Angel Reese led the Dream's effort with 15 points, 14 rebounds, and six assists. She described the shift in team morale following the difficult scheduling weeks. “You could definitely tell we got our swagger back,” Reese said. She also expressed gratitude for the fans who arrived despite the early start time.
Rhyne Howard built a 20-point lead for Atlanta in the first half. Her performance helped secure the decisive advantage before halftime. Howard noted that the fans were likely to leave the arena with a sense of satisfaction after the win. “Now they can leave with a better taste in their mouth,” Howard said. “get the bottomless mimosas, enjoy the rest of their day, because I know nobody’s going back to work.”
The Dream had voiced concerns about the schedule in an open letter this week. The team stated that the clash with the Hawks' game against the Cleveland Cavaliers did not receive the necessary attention from the WNBA. The frustration over the logistics provided a contrast to the on-court success, which has drawn record viewership with an average of 2.1 million viewers for Game 1.
The victory prevented the league from crowning a champion on a weekday afternoon. Golden State fans in the Pacific Time Zone had to watch the match at 9:30 a.m. to support the young team's bid for a first title. The series now moves to a final game, with the Dream holding the advantage after the 11-point win.
The Dream have played their postseason games at State Farm Arena because their home venue seats only 3,500. That capacity was deemed too small for the interest shown in their first Finals appearance since 2013. The team and the Hawks do not share an owner, a factor that complicated the scheduling negotiations this week.
Source: KELO
